I finally made it to a bookstore today. Woohoo! I wanted to yell that as I made it inside. I wanted to celebrate and it felt so great to be in my favorite store again. It made me smile as I ran up the escalator to the second floor.

I think they’ve been open for a few weeks now but I had only taken the opportunity to visit today, what with watching the kids at home mostly. This morning they were in school and I had a doctor’s appointment so I thought I’d make a stop after doing a bit of ice cream shopping at the Trader Joe’s next door.

They rearranged maybe 75% of the merchandise and books. The only thing that I noticed that stayed in the same place were the magazines, the cafe, and the kids’ toy area, and the children’s book section. Gone were the tables and chairs at the cafe. The layout of the floor was groups of C-shaped shelves, not rows anymore, giving more room between people browsing. It actually looked a lot better than it did before. It looked and felt more open.

I like the change and I’m just really relieved they haven’t gone bankrupt yet, between COVID and Amazon. I supported them by buying over $150 worth of toys and books. Oops. I could say I tapped into my unused accumulated bookstore budget for the past four months.

I can’t let Barnes and Noble go out of business, otherwise I think I would die inside. It may be the only place I can spend all day in and leave feeling especially hopeful and content, then come back the very next day, do the same thing, and seriously feel good and full again.