Book lovers line up 100 deep to get a first look at new Barnes & Noble store at UTC
Book lovers have evidently been missing the new book smell and cafe atmosphere of Barnes & Noble, during the COVID-19 pandemic.
When the new 14,000-square-foot store at 200 N. Cattlemen Road in the University Town Center district opened at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, a line of 100 shoppers were waiting outside to check out the books, the vinyl records, and the Starbucks in the cafe.
Even after the initial rush, a line of 10 to 12 people stood outside throughout the day, respecting social distancing rules and waiting their turn to enter.
“We have missed everyone,” store manager Dominique Rosenbloom said. “We had so many people wanting to get into the store and they were very patient.”
Barnes & Noble has a store in Glengary Shoppes, 4010 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. The new store, just south of University Parkway, is the closest to the Bradenton area.
“Everyone has been positive and loving the layout of the new store,” Rosenbloom said.
Store hours are 10:30 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 11:30 a.m.- 6 p.m. Sunday. Because of Father’s Day this weekend, the hours for Friday and Saturday will be extended until 8 p.m.
Construction on the book store started in May 2019 with pouring of the footers, and with a projected opening date of spring of 2020. The store opened essentially on time, despite the pandemic.
“It is a fantastic use of that space. It will add to the quality of the shopping experience at University Town Center. It’s interesting because in-store book sales are up now,” Mark Chait, leasing agent for Benderson Development, said last year.
In addition to its books and music, the store also offers gifts, toys, periodicals and more.
Barnes & Noble has a retail presence in every state, with more than 620 bookstores. Between its retail stores and online operations, Barnes & Noble sells approximately 155 million physical books per year. The company is is the second-largest retailer of magazines in America, carrying about 5,500 magazine titles and nearly 1,000 newspaper titles.
“I love it. I love the environment and the Starbucks,” said one of the first-day visitors to the new store, Benjamin Carr, youth pastor at Bayside Community Church.
Also visiting the new store was Rogelio Salazar.
“We have always liked Banes & Noble so we are just browsing today,” Salazar said.
The company, based in New York City, had approximately 23,000 employees in 2019. Barnes & Noble owns all of its stores and has no plans to to offer franchise opportunities in the future, according to its web site, https://www.barnesandnobleinc.com/.
