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Barnes & Noble To Close More Stores: Would You Miss The One In Dublin?

Company announces it'll shut down 20 stores a year over the next decade.

Do you still go to the Barnes & Noble bookstore in your town?

Apparently not enough people do nationwide.

Company executives told the Wall Street Journal they plan to close 20 stores a year over the next decade.

No specific stores have been targeted yet for closure.

In the East Bay, there are five Barnes & Noble stores. They are in   Emeryville, El Cerrito and Pleasant Hill.

If no new stores were opened, that would reduce the number of Barnes & Noble stores nationwide by a third, the Huffington Post reported.

Since 2003, the company has been closing 15 stores a year, but they've also been opening more than 30 a year.

Last year, however, Barnes & Noble closed 14 stores and didn't open any, the Huffington Post reported.

One reason is a steady decline in book sales. Print book sales have decreased 22 percent over the past five years, according to Nielsen BookScan.

If your Barnes & Noble closed, would you miss it? How can bookstores compete more effectively in this electronic age? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Kari Hulac (Editor) January 29, 2013 at 04:34 pm
Yes definitely. I go to this store regularly. It seems packed on weekends, has the cafe and a great kid area.
Jodi January 29, 2013 at 05:04 pm
We would miss it terribly! It is often an end-of-date destination when my husband and I are out. We get coffee and tea in the cafe and browse the books and games together. We also often visit the children's section to choose books for our kids.
Sean Lemson January 29, 2013 at 05:06 pm
Definitely. And I'm making an effort to buy from them instead of amazon whenever possible. They are the last book store in the area!
Helene Wecker January 29, 2013 at 06:17 pm
Heck yes would I miss it! Besides being a good all-purpose bookstore, it's the only well-stocked newsstand in the area. I'm making an effort to shop at more local bookstores: Towne Center Books, the B&N, and Half Price Books.
a local citizen January 29, 2013 at 06:35 pm
Due to new technology, i.e. the Internet. Some brick and mortar stores are going to disappear. But one can always go to the local library browse and check out books to trial for a potential buy later http://www.barnesandnoble.com . The Livermore Library has a cafe.
Angelica N. January 29, 2013 at 07:34 pm
It would be extremely sad to see more book stores close, in general, but I would be really upset if the Dublin store closed. It's always busy!
Weechee Warrick January 29, 2013 at 08:25 pm
Nope. Every time I think about going to that massive freeway shopping center, I turn on my computer and shop on Amazon instead. More selection, more in stock, and better prices. Good riddance to that place.
Retail Watchdog January 29, 2013 at 10:42 pm
I highly doubt B&N will close their Dublin store. Almost every store in that center is a top performer for the Northern California region. If anything, the older or smaller stores located in Pleasant Hill and El Cerrito will go first... if Dublin or Walnut Creek's stores go, you know the company is headed for the toilet.
George January 30, 2013 at 12:35 am
The fact that the store is always full it does not mean its doing well. I don't recall the line for the registers being that long and at most with two registers open from the times that I have been there. A lot of people just browse around the books and pass the time with their kids and not really buying enough to support it, myself included.
Californicated1 January 30, 2013 at 10:30 am
It would definitely be a blow to the local economy if the Dublin B&N closed, but what would probably hurt even more, and Christmastime will bear this is the "Bag Ban" if B&N chooses to adhere to it.
Without complimentary bags being issued for purchases, shoppers may wind up buying less anyway and that it turn will affect how this store performs. Besides groceries, other retail outlets, like Radio Shack here in Livermore over on First with the surly clerk on weekends, are also withholding bags for purchases. So I can't see very many businesses flourishing in Alameda County for very long with the "Bag Ban" in place, let alone B&N.
Retail Watchdog January 30, 2013 at 09:44 pm
A ban on plastic bags won't hurt a huge corporation like Barnes & Noble. They can afford to replace their bags with paper, as they've done in San Jose and other cities that have banned plastic bags. To act like banning plastic bags will negatively affect large business in town is ludicrous.
Paisley January 31, 2013 at 02:38 pm
Yes. They can afford these things. They are a corporation. They can afford anything apparently.
Soooooo... why are they shutting stores? Because they don't have enough business you say? No matter. They are a corporation. Just heap more costs on them. Then wonder why they shut down one by one.
Retail Watchdog January 31, 2013 at 05:19 pm
Plastic bags are not the be-all end-all of big business. They'll be getting ten cents from each paper bag should the ban encompass all retail stores, which is most definitely a profit. Barnes & Noble being in financial trouble is not a new thing.
Cassey Thormaton January 31, 2013 at 11:54 pm
Nope. Won't miss it. Amazon.com has the books I need/want.

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