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Barnes & Noble Booksellers
Categories: Bookstores, Newspapers & Magazines [Edit]
152 Miracle MileMiami, FL 33134
(305) 446-4152
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
4 reviews for Barnes & Noble Booksellers
This is a rather small-to-moderate-sized B&N branch (I used to shop regularly at the multi-storey mega-branch at Union Square in Manhattan). But they have a great, very extensive selection of fiction (in English and Spanish), as well as a functional selection of non-fiction titles.
The location is great (on Miracle Mile just off the corner at Ponce de Leon), and the hours are fantastic (9am - 11pm every day).
The best thing about the place, as far as B&N stores go, is that unlike in most B&N stores, you won't find hordes of young teens here sitting on the floor and blocking the aisles as the do their homework and socialize. People do socialize in this store, but they tend to do so in the cafe, which is there for that purpose.
What I love about B&N: you can take your potential purchases to the in-house coffee shop, much easier to make a final selection with a good, swift caffeine and sugar kick. And practically unheard of in Latin America, which makes me feel like I'm breaking the rules.
The general consistency often found in chains is a bit challenging for me. You know they'll have the same stuff you saw when on vacation in New York, and a similar modus operandi. No surprises can be good but also rather tedious.
Do watch out for the parking attendant in the back, who clearly take his responsibilities very seriously. I'm not one for being ordered around when about to spend hard earned recession-devalued cash, and this guy is definitely a "celador que se cree dueño del estacionadero". I've been known to even pay a dollar an hour and park on the street to avoid what invariably becomes a petty argument... although one time I did decide to have some fun when I saw him moonlighting, selling fruit out of the trunk of his car to the person idling in line in front of me. I asked him sweetly if he thought it was right to park his own car in the lot and take a space away from paying customers, ha ha, that one really set him off!
Employees inside the store, on the other hand, are all quite friendly and even manage to keep a smile going during the hectic long-lined, stressed-out-customer holiday season.
An added plus: pretty decent selection of libros en español.
What's the worst thing about this Barnes and Noble? The parking. The store is typical in size (i.e. large), but the parking lot in the back is always full due to the fact that it's shared by the FedEx Kinko's around the corner. All-in-all, it's a nice place to shop for books, magazines, and music, and there is a Starbucks inside too. There's a great section for children to read and play with their parents, which I think is a great way to get children to enjoy reading. Look on http://barnesandnoble.com for upcoming events at this store -- there is always something going on.
Expect the same from this branch as from all branches. Be wary of parking in the back...too much hassle and not enough spots. Good selection of books in Spanish.