Barnes and Noble Bethesda Avenue Closing end of 2017

[Anonymous]

Hopefully they can turn that building into an art space like the torpedo factory in Alexandria. That would be great.

Or maybe a yoga studio.

[Anonymous]

I agree that people should have spent more money there. I mean, obviously. But the name calling on this thread is unnecessary.

Some of the fault lies with the jacked-up rent. It's a big issue on Bethesda Row, given the number of closings.

---Someone who spent plenty of money at the store

[Anonymous]

So off-shoot. Is the BN in Clarendon safe? I hate the idea of having to fire up a web browser when my kids want to buy a book. I though BN had a good strategy to curate a selection of high quality toys -- they are a goto for last minute gifts. I think an expansion into events would help them, maybe kid concerts or Leto festivals or something?

[Anonymous]

I heard a Nike store might replace it

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I heard a Nike store might replace it

Not interested(!)

Let's keep the name-calling out of this thread, ok? We all understand the business model that B&N is dealing with and even if we all had a hand in it, doesn't mean we can't be sad. I miss Borders and B&N like crazy. Our family buys tons of books - almost all of our kids books are purchased at brick and mortar shops because the kids see it and want it right away. They also carried a nice selection of toys for birthday parties. I told my kids the news just now and they're sad.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Federal Realty for driving out another quality store. I hope it sits empty and costs you a ton of money for a long long time.

[Anonymous]

It's a perfect space for West Elm. The company already has Pottery Barn and William Sonoma across the street - they can rule the entire intersection.

Or maybe a Room and Board.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It's a perfect space for West Elm. The company already has Pottery Barn and William Sonoma across the street - they can rule the entire intersection.

Or maybe a Room and Board.

I don't think R&B would open another store so close to their 14th st one since it wouldn't make sense for their particular business model. I could see a west elm, however, opening here. Their stuff isn't as expensive and they move more impulse shopping type wares. Plus, i don't think they have any stores in moco, right? There's the one on 14th and at Tysons. I'd take that any day over a Nike store. I also wouldn't mind a Nordstroms, REI or crate & barrel.

[Anonymous]

I've started looking at Amazon for reviews and then going over to Barnesandnoble.com to buy the book. I have a Nook not a kindle. It takes a little longer, but I've read enough about Amazon's pricing policies that I don't want to live in a world where Amazon sells me everything.

This is the same reason places like Penn Camera went out of business. I was actually in there buying something a few years ago and the store staff were complaining that people come in to test out their cameras and then buy them cheaper online. It's true, Penn Camera was paying rent on E Street while Amazon is shipping from their warehouses.

It's sort of a collective action problem (that's an economic term related to public goods and free rider issues). If we all want places where we can go and flip through books and try out cameras before buying, then we all have to be willing to sacrifice a few dollars to support the places that offer this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's a perfect space for West Elm. The company already has Pottery Barn and William Sonoma across the street - they can rule the entire intersection.

Or maybe a Room and Board.

I don't think R&B would open another store so close to their 14th st one since it wouldn't make sense for their particular business model. I could see a west elm, however, opening here. Their stuff isn't as expensive and they move more impulse shopping type wares. Plus, i don't think they have any stores in moco, right? There's the one on 14th and at Tysons. I'd take that any day over a Nike store. I also wouldn't mind a Nordstroms, REI or crate & barrel.

REI is opening up a big store at Pike and Rose. It would be a great space for a Crate and Barrel but the already have that huge store on Mass Ave. There are no West Elms in suburban Maryland.

[Anonymous]

My husband suggested a Target when I wondered what would be big enough to pay the rent. Then maybe it could move that ridiculous store out of the Trader Joes center on Wisconsin. Or maybe a Wegmans or a high-end food court like those hipster places down on H street. A yoga studio would never be able to pay the rent. Somebody on Bethesda Beat suggested putting the library there and then demolishing the old library building for green space which could link up with the nearby park. I think that would be a good idea too.

[Anonymous]

Federal Realty is to blame. The rent skyrocketed. Like they need to libe their pockets with even more money.

It's amazing that bookstores, which are attractive to a healthy, safe community and serve as a window to worlds unknown, are disappearing. It's sad commentary in this day and age. No one cares that this place is what made Bethesda Row so appealing to people. A place to peruse, to discover new reads, a place for kids to see actual books and reach for them instead of being some abstract on the screen of an iPad. Why must this happen? It's not right. It's not healthy for a community. I'm hoping for a Hail Mary pass here that someone has a change of heart. I bought all my magazines, children's books and novels there. Simply because I can't stand anymore to read things on an iPad or kindle. After awhile everything looks the same. There is no feeling to what I've read. I prefer to hold an actual magazine and completely disconnect, or a physical novel in my hands, and let my fingers touch the paper...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So now Bethesda is a bunch of silly, over-priced boutiques and mediocre restaurants.

Uh, was it ever anything BUT that?

"Uh," some of us remember the concrete plant that was where Rio Grande is now. GFY.

GFY?

Are you impying that I should go forth and perform a sex act on myself? Because I dared to poke a little fun at your oh-so-pretentious little 'burg?

You must be a Rotarian.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So now Bethesda is a bunch of silly, over-priced boutiques and mediocre restaurants.

Like Georgetown

[Anonymous]

The reason Kramerbooks at Dupont survives is because there's no place to sit down and pretend you're in the library. And that's a good thing.