By Samantha Posa

When daunted with the stress of school and family commitments, I often find myself heading to a Barnes and Noble to study. Upon my arrival, I am met by the aromatic smell of crisp new books coupled by the familiar view of lush green carpeting and dark wood shelves. With its comforting vibe reminiscent of an inviting Ivy League library, Barnes and Noble is one of my favorite places to frequent, to either indulge myself in a good book or get some work done in the quaint cafe.  

However, this comforting vibe present in many Barnes and Noble stores today is quickly disappearing. Many of the Barnes and Noble locations surrounding the San Fernando Valley share the same design and decor, having remained largely untouched since their initial construction. 

On the other hand, all of the new stores that have opened in recent years have taken on a more modern approach to the interior, with brighter lighting and a wide layout. Some locations like the one at The Grove have also been significantly renovated to match the new aesthetic. The green carpet has been replaced in favor of light grey carpet or birch wood. Instead of the old lush library feeling the old Barnes and Noble locations used to give off, the new locations feel more reminiscent of a large warehouse.

Besides just the look of the interior, the new locations offer less seating options for readers to enjoy their books prior to purchasing, with the new design emphasizing quick buys. 

Some proponents for the new interior argue that the changes have brought new success to the company. During the 2010s, Barnes and Noble faced turbulent periods threatened by bankruptcy with the rise of Amazon as a bookseller.

With the closing of competitor bookseller Borders, Barnes and Noble appeared to soon face the same fate when CEO James Daunt took over the company. Determined to turn around business, Daunt turned to specialized curation of stores rather than a “one size fits all” model Barnes and Noble operated with its stores. 

Workers now have greater discretion on what books they want to order to appeal to their local audience, which has boosted sales. The rise of the hashtag #BookTok on TikTok during the pandemic has also contributed to an increase in success. 

These are the factors that have resulted in Barnes and Noble’s ability to open 60 new stores in 2025 with the new interiors, not because of the new decor adjustments. 

While the newfound success Barnes and Noble is finding is great, there’s a way to continue this trend by still remaining loyal to its inviting roots. According to an article by Business Insider, one of the main reasons Barnes and Noble rose in sales in the 1990s was because of their emphasis on letting customers stay longer by adding features like telephones and restrooms. 

With the new bright lights and lack of seating, Barnes and Noble is losing the charm that many flocked to it for. Storegoers should be able to enjoy a comfortable ambience while appreciating the new storegoing features. 

In the new stores Barnes and Noble is set to open this year, the new stores should continue to maintain the old interior to uphold the comforting atmosphere the bookseller is known for. 

Regardless, it’s true that companies need to keep evolving to keep their customer population afloat, and Barnes and Noble is no exception to this. If modern renovations are inevitable, a balance between the old library style and the modern touches serves as the best of both worlds. I find that the Calabasas location in particular meshes both aesthetics well, with the original interior retaining the older style but incorporating some of the modern-style shelves as well. This design serves well to represent both the old and incoming eras of the well-loved bookseller.