The Barnes and Noble that has been thriving for more than thirty years in the Kendall area is set to close for good at the end of the month.
A new store is set to open in the same relative area soon, but the direction the Barnes and Noble corporation plans to take poses a threat to all bookstores. Barnes and Noble should be protected more against the increasingly digitalized world and should maintain their traditional bookstore atmosphere.
The new store will likely have some drastic changes, including a new logo and completely modernized store format.
“I felt at home there, and that can’t be said for all stores,” said Jose Cardenas, a freshman at Florida International University and a Miami local.
With nearly 10,000 people signing an online petition in hopes of saving this bookstore, disappointment does not begin to express their sentiments. But who is to blame? Online retailers, most notably Amazon, are where most of the evidence is pointing.
As of 2023, Amazon sold the majority of the books that were bought in the United States. This is due to a few good reasons.
Online sources for books are extremely helpful and provide more information that may not always be available at traditional bookstores. Retailers like Amazon offer competitive prices and other incentives, like free shipping, that are not available at bookstores.
But this does not take away the importance of supporting bookstores. Not only do they provide peaceful study spots or an aesthetic place to get a coffee, but also they’re vital to the local economy and future generations of authors.
The traditional atmosphere of a bookstore is also something that should be preserved. By modernizing, Barnes and Noble is tarnishing their impact in the area. Wooden bookshelves, warm lighting and carpet flooring are all nostalgic components that will be eliminated in the new Barnes and Noble.
“There’s a huge disconnect now between comfort and functionality,” said Cardenas. “Instead of being welcomed into a cozy bookstore, I feel like I’m just being sold a product.”
Cardenas also noted that the newer stores feel “empty” in comparison to the “visually appealing” and “warm atmosphere” of the prior Barnes and Noble.
When compared to the smaller chain of local bookstores Books and Books, the dull qualities of the modernized Barnes and Noble are even more evident. The difference between the two in solely ambiance is like night and day.
With the modernization of Barnes and Noble, traditional bookstores like the iconic south Florida chain need to be preserved and supported. Without local support, who knows how long it will take until these bookstores are completely dominated by online retailers like Amazon?
Traditional bookstores like Barnes and Noble used to be a place where kids and adults could go to unwind after a long day. Now, with the extinction of these bookstores, an essential piece of human life is being lost. To preserve our humanity and promise it to future generations, we must ensure the protection of such bookstores for years to come.