Barnes and Noble will have the grand opening of its new prototype store at the Veranda on May 22. (photo by Pete Cruz)
Barnes & Noble opens new store prototype at The Veranda
Barnes and Noble arrives in Concord May 22. The book store unlocks its doors for a grand opening on Wednesday at The Veranda.
“We could not be more excited to be opening a new store prototype at The Veranda as part of our ongoing testing of new stores across the country,” said Frank Morabito, Vice President, Stores, Barnes & Noble. The shop “will offer a clean, contemporary design that is easy to shop and friendly to our customers. It will feature a full assortment of books at its core, with a curated selection of educational toys and games, family games and puzzles and gift items for avid readers.”
The 12,200-square-foot store features modern design aesthetics. It features oak bookshelves and a mix of wood-grain tile and carpet throughout. Lower profile bookshelves provide customers with a panoramic view of the store, adding an open and airy feel. Two large “book theaters” invite customers to discover books in a new 360-degree experience. Illuminated bookcases further enhance discovery. From community seating around a table to individual comfortable chairs, customers of all ages will find a comfortable spot. You can curl up alone with a good book or gather with a small group of friends.
Storytime for kids
The Children’s Section – with a LEGO® activity table and dedicated Storytime space – creates a special environment for kids. A whimsical “jungle gym” display feature, built specially for toys, adds a sense of fun to the space.
The Café offers a wide selection of Starbucks® beverages and fresh baked goods. Healthy grab-and-go snacks are also available. Patrons can choose from a variety of informal seating options, including bar seating, outdoor seating and a community worktable which includes easily accessible USB/AC outlets.
Booksellers at the shop will be equipped with tablets to help them assist customers anywhere in the store. This new technology will allow booksellers to help customers with product selection and easily locate books on the store floor, as well as check customers out without a visit to checkout counter. In addition, the store has self-serve kiosks that enable customers to research, discover and locate books throughout the store.
Community Support
Barnes & Noble would like to support the community and host events of interest to customers, from book fairs for local schools to book signings and story times. A 700-square-foot flexible event space will be available for author events and book signings. Contact Barnes & Noble at The Veranda at 925-349-3500 if you are interested in using their event space.
The new store is located at 2025 Diamond Blvd., Suite 125, Concord, California.