A real page-turner: Take a look inside Columbia’s new, redesigned Barnes & Noble bookstore
They weren’t going to let a little rain spoil a visit to their newest literary haven.
More than 100 people lined up on a rainy Wednesday morning for the official opening of the new Barnes & Noble bookstore at 6090 Garners Ferry Road in the Shoppes at Woodhill shopping center. The well-known national bookseller was previously located at the Richland Mall on Forest Drive for more than a quarter-century, but that location closed in December as the mall site prepares to undergo a complete, $100 million overhaul in coming years.
The new store on Garners Ferry is nearly 25,000 square feet, and is in the spot that once was home to a Bed, Bath & Beyond. The shop represents a new aesthetic for Barnes & Noble. Gone are the dark green carpets and the shelving made of dark woods. This version is bright, with lighter flooring and shelving, clean sight lines across the sprawling store and a layout that gives various literary genres their own alcoves that store officials refer to as “rooms.”
You’ll find all of the various sections you love — sci-fi, romance, young adult, religion and so on — and there are plenty of toys and games for the kids (or the young at heart). There’s a large cafe toward the front of the store, and many of Wednesday’s initial patrons made a beeline there for coffee, pastries and other treats.
Barnes & Noble store manager John Garvin has been with the company for nine years, including the last two in Columbia. He said the store’s employees and company officials worked hard to get to Wednesday’s opening and were thrilled to see a big debut crowd.
“I was surprised, with the rain, how many people were here,” Garvin said of the opening morning crowd. “It just shows that our community cares about our bookstore. Being at the old location for 26 years, the last few years were rough, just because of the (condition of) the building. Having this new location is just tremendous. We love it, and we were waiting on the community to see it.”
Wednesday’s opening also featured a book-signing appearance by author B.B. Alston, who pens the bestselling “Amari” series of books that are popular with young readers. Alston beamed as a long line of students from a local school gathered around Wednesday to chat and have their books autographed.
Garvin said he was particularly pleased to see the local school group show up to visit the store Wednesday morning. Drawing in young readers is always a plus, he said.
“I grew up in Barnes & Noble, going there as a kid,” the store manager said. “Barnes & Noble has really encouraged kids to start reading. We work with our local schools so much. That’s why you see a school bus pull up, because we reached out and let them know about this.”
Garvin said he expects the store will see significant foot traffic in a shopping center that also includes a Target, a World Market, a Party City and more.
Columbia’s Adair Kinlaw was among the customers who hit the Garners Ferry Barnes & Noble right as it opened on Wednesday and soon had an armful of books she planned to purchase. She is an avid reader and said she was happy to have Barnes & Noble back in the mix in Columbia.
“I’m here with two of my best friends,” Kinlaw said. “We have a book club together and we always used to go to Barnes & Noble together at the old location, so we wanted to come for this opening. I think it’s so great. It’s set up really nice and you can tell that the community is excited to be here.”
