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Category: Bookstores [Edit]
The Americana at Brand
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I call this B&N the mecca of all B&N locations. The smell of new books hits me like a brick every time I enter...and I love it.
So fine, I haven't visited all the B&Ns out there, but this one pretty much has it all in 3 levels. It's a great hangout spot with a good amount of seats, tables and couches (and outside patio!), great customer service, and of course, all the books and magazines you can read and peruse through, while sipping your Starbucks coffee from the cafe located on the 3rd floor.
I called to see if seven titles were available at the store. I was looking for specific fashion books for my best friend for her birthday but wanted to choose from a range of titles. The B&N worker on the other end was very patient. Not only did she check the computer's results that said the books were available, but she also went to double-check that they were physically on the shelves. I didn't even ask so that was nice of her! So maybe it's part of their job to double-check as well, but I thought that was awesome. Books were all there, and she even offered to reserve them so I could walk up to the register and pay immediately. Since I would be broke if I bought all of 'em, I told her I'd just drop by myself.
So yay on customer service! Phone calls can be a biatch, but if you're looking for specific titles and just want to pay and go, reserve the book so that you can avoid finding it yourself.
Other than that, wandering around the store is fun. There's also a little stage of some sort by the children's area on the third floor--very cute, bring a kid here, and they'll go wild. Not that I would know or anything, just a suggestion!
Come one, come all. Personally, this is my favorite store in the Americana. You can spend hours here and not get bored.
Huge selection, always have lots of staff on the sales floor and yet, they're horrible. I was looking for a specific book and saw on their website that it should be in store. So i call and speak to an employee who took down my name and told me that my book will be on hold for me at the first floor registers.
I run in to Barnes and Noble before heading to work and was told went straight to pay for my book. As i give them my name, my book is no where to be found. Then the lady looks at me all crazy and asks "Are you sure you called, I dont think you did". Um...first of all, i just told you that i did, dont question me. So i spell my name out for her and she frustratingly checks. Once again, i get the stink eye and informs me that the book was never sent down so i have to go to information booth and ask for it.
OK...what??? I called ahead to save time, you screwed up, and now i have to bust a mission to the 3rd floor to retrieve it? Ridiculous. So after walking that maze of a store, i finally make it to the 3rd floor information booth and say...
Me: Excuse me, hi. I called a few hours ago about putting a book on hold and...
Bookseller: (cuts me off) Its downstairs..
Me: Um, ok. Im saying that i called and told that my book will be waiting for me at the registers but i was just told that its not there.
Bookseller: (rolling her eyes) *grunt* What are you looking for?
So at this point, i tell her the title and author of the book. Without even saying anything to me, she walks off and leaves me standing there. Wtf? 5 minutes later, she comes back with the book and throws it on the counter and looks at me as though im some sort of dog whos supposed to catch in my mouth.
Unfortunately, i really needed this book so i did have to go back downstairs to purchase it. Went back to the same lady who rang me up and suggested that i purchase their membership card for $25.....Twenty five dollars for a card to save a few cents on a card that expires after a year? Nooo thank you. B&N can take that card and shove it.
I am and will always be a fan of library books...something about the vintage appearance and the smell. So normally I am rummaging used book stores and library sales, but when I do cheat I always go here. They have a better selection than borders plus this place is HUGE. They have free wi-fi and starbucks, I could spend hours here. I always find beautiful stationary and journals, too. Great around Christmas time. My only problem is the staff wasn't very helpful, i would search a specific book online to check if it's in stock and I'll go in on a rush and ask if they can direct me and helf of the time they don't know. Oh well a store that big, can't really expect it.
Bookstores I love 'em, that's one of the many things my parents got me into; 'reading books'. We came here for a couple of reasons, first on the list were a few homework books for my son. They got a good selection here at B&N and we were able to get him a few. Personally I was looking for a specific book; Smack: Heroin and the American City, but unfortunately it was out of stock. I saw a couple of other nice book, but I had to apply some self-discipline here, cause I easily spend some good money on books if I'm not careful enough.
This B&N is quiet, clean, has a Starbucks and a big patio and besides books, you can look for CD's DVD's Board games and much more. Btw parking on Monday - Thursday is free in the Americana.
I frequent this place more than church! haha! Seriously this is a great book store I can spend hours upon hours there. I love the 3 levels and the Starbucks coffee that I can enjoy out in the patio! For all you out there that love books and knowledge this is the place to go. Books, music, videos, magazines... you name it! A definite 5 star!
On the basis of being able to read or study, this is a nice place with ample indoor and outdoor tables, but only on weekdays BEFORE the schools let out or later in the evening, otherwise, like on weekends the place is too busy to hike across the mall and up three floors just to study. The starbucks cafe staff are quick with drinks and they have a decent pasty selection.
I give them a fourth star for having a nice view of the mall common area from the outdoor terrace seating
The Barnes & Nobles is 1 of the only reasons why I even place foot in the stupid place called the Americana.
Here are some pointers:
1- Become a B&N Member- Cost is $25/Year and anytime you head to the Americana (even if you don't buy anything from them, show your membership card & you get 2 hours free parking)
2- Looking for a specific book or item? Go to http://barnesandnobles... and you can search your item. If they have it in stock here, they will hold it for you at the register for 3 days (sure beats browsing!!)
3- The 3rd floor has a Starbucks and outdoor seating... so you can people watch (like me) or just enjoy a newspaper and your favorite barista brew.
I really don't like the Americana... I prefer the Grove MUCH more, but the Barnes & Noble is 3 stories & I guarantee- anything that you are looking for will be in here :)
Barnes and Noble is big box bookstore chain. We all know this. And rarely is a Barnes and Noble more than that. Good news. This one is. The Americana's B&N has a third floor outdoor seating area. Why is this special you ask? Stand there and look across the courtyard. You will see the eight story parking garage.
This means is that we can setup a zip-line from the parking garage roof to the B&N outdoor seats. Sometimes you want to be on the third floor without having to deal with the first or second floors. Let's do it.
_C$
I go to the one in Marina del Rey. Very relaxing to go and just read. Magazine aisles are great too. One major bummer is that they need more CHAIRS to sit on. They probably do it on purpose to avoid people reading entire Harry Potter books in the store. I also love the Barne's and Noble card, so convenient.
When this place opened I was massively impressed. They have the Adventures of Pete & Pete 1 and 2 in the store?! What else was I looking for...oh, they have that too...I always have to special order that from Amazon!
Well, they started with everything but have quickly turned into the usual mega book establishment that needs to special order most things. It would've been nice if they kept up their inventory. Now that the newness has worn off, it's proven to be just like any other place. Even if it is huge, the space isn't maximized for merchandise, just the "chilling" factor. So whatever. I don't hate it, don't love it. Will shop there if I need something the same day and can't find it at Borders.
I don't know if I came here on a good day or what, but the cashiers here are much nicer than cashiers at other B&N stores.
I like this B&N right now because it's new. Ooh, bright and shiny things. And it gives off that aura of COOL. In a few years it'll wear away.
I enjoy this place mainly because of the top floor outside seating. It's a very nice view of the entire mall and usually is quiet if you go on a weekday. Weekends are extremely packed...so its better to go inside, although even then its pretty crowded wherever you go in that god forsaken mall.
3 floors, coffee shop inside, huge selection. Whats there not to like about that?
Except the insane amount of people that go there just to talk and not read for some odd reason.
The Americana is the Grove 2.0, and just as if you took the Barnes & Noble straight out of the grove and put it in the new location, you just beef it up. And the Americana's version does that ten fold. You have the standard three floors that you get up to and on top is the vast selection of books that has whatever you're looking for.
Not only that, but they have the typical coffee joint attached inside. Get a cup and then take the ten feet to the tables located on the third floor. There you will have a perfect seat to look down on the Americana's water works and "central park" area. It's great for people watching or just taking in the air.
It's really a great spot to just spend some time and read, watch the water works and sip on whatever liquid you happen to be enjoying.
Still having trouble on ranking BN compared to Borders across the way. Sure, Borders does get dwarfed in the shadow of this three-story BN where one could easily commit suicide by jumping off of the top floor, but is bigger always better? Books are books, to me they're like drugs, and I'll get my fix any way I can whether it's the small guy or the big guy, but there is a sense of security that is there knowing that the big guy is right around the corner when the small guy is too coked out on his own stuff. I also don't know how I feel about BN being the owners of Gamestop, there's a certain level of irony, books and videogames.
This place is packed on the weekends. Where are all these people coming from? this place is practically a warehouse of books. It is kind of nice looking over the vegas-inspired courtyard, the fountains and all that. It gives the illusion that we're in a bigger city than we are. But isn't that the whole thing with Vegas, eh? It's aaaaaaall an illuuuuusion...
I love bookstores. Nothing better than grabbing a latte, studying, and then reading a little bit when I'm done.
This Barnes and Noble is decent, but it left a little to be desired on the relaxation front. The cafe and seats along the windows and on the balcony tend to fill up, and not with studious types. Inside, there are usually some teenagers or college kids sitting around loudly whispering and giggling and literally jumping around on occasion. Outside, all pretense of whispering is abandoned and people chat and have social time, which is fine except when they get obnoxious with each other. The balcony smells like piss, which is unfortunate and strange. I mean, when does one get a chance to whip it out on that balcony? There are always a million people hanging around.
I guess the bookstore itself is fine, but the people who hang out there annoy me. Gotta go somewhere else if you really want peace and quiet.
At first when you enter this new location of B&N you first notice it's a bit brighter than the typical B&N and it seems a bit bare. That's until you go to the top floor which is 3-4 times the size of the other two floors. Your typical B&N after that with the Starbucks cafe and the great selection of books, mags and discs. Not sure if they'll do as many signings and events as the Grove or the Santa Monica locale but we'll see.
I think this is my favorite book store ever. It has 3 floors and possibly has every book, cd, dvd, stationery, random accessories you can ever want. There's also a starbucks on the 3rd floor, along with an outside patio area. It's a really well done bookstore and I can get lost in here for hours... seriously!
wow. clean. nice. three stories. more places to sit. kinda crowded though. people here are really helpful.
went in, asked for a book, checked out in less then 10 min.
there is a friendly doorman and the place is quite a sight to look at
plenty of books to pick from, just dont know where to start
hmmm, cheesy romance novels with fabio and bare chest with a half clothed woman on the cover.....CHECK
i enjoy this barnes and noble!
its so big, and comforting. the upstairs levels are great, especially the area where kids sit and read.....its cute!
i tried a very disgusting shake from the cafe part of barnes and noble, they have lots of other choices, i urge you not to get strawberry's and bananas, TASTED BAD!
this store is almost exactly like the store at the grove just off of fairfax. i love it. the store is spacious and is very airy. the selection of books is amazing as always and there are a lot of employees just waiting to help you find whatever it is that is your fancy.
