It's not every day that I receive customer service that makes me create a new account to talk…read moreabout. To begin, this Barnes is a retrofitted movie theater from the 50's, which adds a very unique vibe to the space. It's smaller than some of the other local Barnes, but they carry a wide and varied selection of genres, only missing out on stuff like toys and games. If you're here for books, though, you'll find plenty of them, in a clean and well organized manner. The few times I've been in here, there is always an employee working on moving sections, or deep cleaning shelves; the attention to cleanliness and order is on high display at this location, and clearly a lot of pride goes into the work done by the employees.
I've never had an unpleasant interaction with anyone who works here. You can find a lot of the same books for the same prices in Burbank, or over the hill at the grove, but you'll struggle to find employees with this level of care and heart anywhere else in the city, in any industry. When you walk in, and the employees are speaking French to each other, you can feel the camaraderie between them. In addition, many of the workers here seem to be artists/media types of some sort and that shows in the tables, and thought put into the way things are displayed. There is a lot of art in the set up of this location.
I was recently in shopping for my kids, and was assisted by many of the workers in different areas of the store. A young woman named Cyriel helped me choose a handful of chapter books, pointing me towards titles I was unfamiliar with but ended up being a home run when the little ones got them. I was also helped by a young man named Jonah, who spent plenty of time discussing comic books with me, and helped me choose a few for myself, and the kids. Once again, I felt like I was listened to, and heard before recommendations were made, and they all ended up being excellent choices. Jonah also helped ring me up, and though there was a long, hectic line of people, he went through the entire transaction with a smile, and held an engaging and meaningful conversation while handling the process. He even directed me to the local comic book store, and helped me pick a restaurant in the neighborhood for lunch! There are a lot of questions at the register these days, but it's clear that whoever is training the cashiers is doing a good job. You don't get the kind and attentive service that this young man provided everywhere these days; this customer service is a diamond in the rough.
Overall, this is much more than a Barnes and noble experience, this place feels more like a neighborhood independent book store, with corporate backing, than many of the new ultra sterile Barnes popping up. Go to take a look at the vintage location, but stay to get to know the incredible staff running the place.
