I know everyone and their mother has talked about this but I sincerely feel that we have in the US at least, experienced the death of the third place, and for me no other place is as emblematic as B&N. I still enjoy going there (as I do other bookstores) but unlike in my childhood, bookstores have really lost their magic and I never spend more than an hour in one nowadays. I'm not sure if this is an attempt to compete with places with Amazon, but bookstores now, just like coffee shops, seem incentivized to get you in and out as fast as possible. This doesn't make any sense since I think the one advantage bookstores offer is a place to physically enjoy books and be in a community of readers.
- No more comfortable seating. I know B&N employees have explained that this is for hygenic reasons but even small independent bookstores don't even offer a single place to sit. I'm sorry, but there is nothing relaxing about having to literally stand or crouch to take a look at a book. If I am not going to even be able to enjoy taking a look at several books, then there is no difference than looking through Amazon and reading the previews of books online.
Although B&N has the Starbucks cafe inside which I really appreciate, it is completely overrun with remote laptop workers who spend hours at each table and there are no longer the cute desserts they had in the past. I still appreciate them having this though.
Also, I know I shouldn't necessarily complain about this, but I think the availability of books through sites like Amazon has caused overconsumption and reduced the 'magic' of actually buying a book. As a kid, being able to buy a book from B&N wasn't an everyday occurrence, and I treasured all the books that I was able to buy. Sitting with a book and seriously considering whether I wanted it (when it used to cost like $12-$20 dollars to purchase a book which was expensive in the 2000s/2010s), made it so much more special.
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No more cozy vibes. The old B&N from my childhood still has that cozy, 2000's vibe but the newer ones I see popping up have a larger, open concept, high-ceiling design with more tables rather than shelves. There is no sense that you are able to just disappear into the shelves or even sit down on the ground to enjoy books. The open concept design makes them feel extremely crowded and I'm almost always fighting for just a place to stand and check out books, especially on the weekend. Not to be dramatic, but it is giving Foucault’s Panopticon. Other bookstores I've noticed are extremely cramped and leave no space to actually enjoy the experience of shopping there.
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The fun is gone. The other thing I really liked about B&N was being able to feel like I was constantly discovering something new. They used to have a section where they had discounted sets where you could microdose a new hobby like Chinese calligraphy, origami, etc. Growing up, my dad used to buy these for us and it was so fun being able to try a new craft for like 20 dollars. I haven't seen these around anymore, especially not in the new B&N and I feel like there are hardly any good deals anymore. I think B&N was so much more than just books in the past and the stationery section and other sections like music/vinyls and Criterion collection used to make it so fun. B&N used to be my go-to place for anything novel/interesting.
I wish some coffee shops and bookstores would take a page out of the book, pun not intended, from coffee shops I've seen in Europe, especially cities like Prague. I miss being in Europe (I know Europe is more than one country, I'm speaking broadly for privacy purposes) because the coffee shops/bookstores there remind me more of spending time in a very cozy house. I actually feel like I am in a 'third-place' where there is a possibility of interacting with other patrons. I've always said that if I were able to replicate this exactly (alongside the beter quality ingredients, good customer service etc) it would be one of the most popular cafes in my city/neighborhood—though of course, this would cause an overcrowding problem which is also part of what makes even the more decent cafes/bookstores nightmarish and overwhelmig in my city.
Anyway, I'm guessing some of y'all can relate. Thanks for reading
by xxfuka-erixx
6 Comments
Now imagine being old enough to remember all the cozy, locally owned corner bookshops that B&N and the like drove out of business.
*I know everyone and their mother has talked about this*
But here are another thousand words
Godspeed
You shouldn’t be taking up valuable space if you’re not buying anything. Sitting around isn’t profitable. Why are you leaving your house if you don’t plan to spend money??
Barnes & Noble are still around, though not as prolific; BNED seems to be making a comeback in the same way that small mom and pop book stores are!
And I am glad for it, I like physical media!
The “death of the third space” is the most ridiculous thing Reddit has ever come up with. The only “third space” which has dissipated over the last few decades is church, somehting Redditors disdain. Literally no changes have been seen in libraries, in parks, in beaches, in coffee shops, in sports facilities, etc. etc. etc.
What in the world are you rambling about.
I remember the B&N in my downtown area that was two stories, with cozy arm chairs, a café, and quiet, peaceful atmosphere that I went to at least twice a week to get away from the madness. *sigh* They turned it into a Cheesecake Factory.