A New Chapter for a Community Favorite

After nearly 30 years of serving metro Miami customers, the famous Barnes & Noble in Kendall Village has transferred to a new location in the Palms at Town & Country shopping area. These have both been popular spots for Falcons to gather on afternoons and weekends. To high anticipation, the revamped store opened on October 15.

Luckily, we had a few previews of the improved Barnes & Noble before the official opening date. The store’s Instagram page shared some early looks into what we could expect in terms of store layout, design, and decoration. Right away, the main consensus seemed to be that the renovations have certainly changed much of the store’s mood; it appears oriented to a more minimalistic approach now, to match with current design trends. For example, the ever-popular Starbucks Cafe found in the previous store is returning, although with a modern design now, compared to the cozier coffeehouse atmosphere it used to have. “The old Barnes was able to differentiate each section better. I’m okay with it but I’ll always prefer the original,” senior Isabel Arguello shares.

Probably the most notable difference when compared to the former store is the new one’s smaller space. The Barnes & Noble on SW 88th St was colossal, with over 55,000 square feet and two expansive floors; this location is less than half of that size and one floor only, occupying the previous Forever 21 space. With this downsizing, shelves and racks are all arranged more compactly to make room for everything. This can make it much easier to ensure your favorite book is sold in-store, but it can also mean a more overwhelming time there, especially for those who are used to the old location. “I’m honestly just glad they didn’t close Barnes & Noble completely,” says junior Melanie Bermudez.

However, the actual experience of the new store feels closer to what the community is used to. Even with the smaller size, the store still feels as bustling and full of life as before. Plus, many of the new concepts prove interesting additions to the store environment. For example, there are now dedicated Legos sections with tables for young kids to experiment with the blocks. Additionally, the Town & Country shopping area is similar to the nearby Kendall Village, which was adjacent to the previous Barnes & Noble site. “I haven’t gone yet, but I like the store’s location so it should be fun to visit,” states senior Camila Cañizo. Some popular stores close by include Marshalls, Five Below, Kohl’s, and an upcoming Miniso.

Of course, the main appeal of B&N are the products it offers. Avid customers know that the store sells not only traditional books, but also comic books, manga, vinyls, CDs, DVDs, board games, toys, puzzles, journals, magazines, plushies, art supplies, keychains, and even reading Kindles. With such a large selection, everyone is bound to find something to their interest. It’s no wonder the store remains as popular as ever with the diverse Kendall community, even through the recent location change.