Barnes & Noble Booksellers

I like this location. Granted, it is smaller than Easton or Polaris, but it is well stocked, the layout is easy to navigate, and the staff is friendly. I feel like the location itself is the right size for the amount of product and I like that I can walk between aisles without fear of knocking things off of tables or shelves. The store had several customers but it never felt busy or crowded.
I was able to call ahead and find a signed copy of a book that was out of stock at all other locations and they were able to hold it for me for pickup which was appreciated! Another location said that they had had it in stock and when I went to pick it up, it wasn’t the signed version. Boo!
At the register, the cashier was even nice enough to ask if I had coupons and waited patiently while I double checked my email. I like the size of Easton and the huge selection but if I want a leisurely browse or have a specific item in mind, this location will be my go to.

I recently joined a book club and, for the first time in a long time, found myself heading out to buy a newly released book. I had heard this Barnes & Noble had it, so I made the short drive over and walked in.
I browsed some of the newly released shelves, not wanting to be the patron who asks where things are when it’s super obvious, but didn’t see it. The store was pretty empty and quiet, so I headed up to the counter and asked where I might find it. The guy looked it up and started walking toward the shelf it could be found at. Before we were there, he abruptly stopped, gestured, and said, «over there.» «Over there» was pretty vague, considering there are generally a lot of books in a book store, so I said, «I’m sorry, where?» «The newly released books, there.» I eventually found it, and it was the last copy.
I’m glad that I found the book, and it was nice that I could ask for help, but I didn’t love the level of service I received — would it have been that much to ask that he walked the last few steps and showed me where the book was? Still, this Barnes & Noble is in a really convenient spot and they did have what I was looking for, so I’d give them another try.

Great bookstore because: it has many items in stock (today, it amazingly had the latest copy of Los Angeles Magazine that I was going to subscribe for a whole year to just to get this issue); it has helpful staff; it has a huge display of gift items in case you forgot to buy one.
Like albums, it’s better to browse a physical store so you can find stuff you never would have searched for online.
Also, this is not Amazon, so if you are worried about drone flying monopolies, keep this place and smaller independent sellers in business.
Good newsstand, too, in case you need reading materials for a flight, car trip, or Sunday morning on the patio.
may have same day delivery in Manhattan, but going into this store in Upper Arlington is even better than that.
Plus, I used to work here when it was a Carfagna’s grocery story in the Eighties.

This B&N sits south of the point-​of-​origin of almost every road in Upper Arlington, and north of the Kingsdale mall. It is the most understated one in town and has that step-​echoing library like quietness that makes it a great place to study or read. But there is a disquieting feel in the air; like Xanadu fading.
As with all B&Ns it has a Starbucks coffee section. Unlike its sister stores though, the UA version has never had an electronic media department. Which puts it ahead of its time, as the triumvirate of Netflix, Amazon, and iTunes are punking them in that market. It feels more a Borders (God rest its soul) than it does other B&N in town; A smaller building, it lacks a showy façade.
I tend to favor small Indy shop or solid intimate chain more than I do big box bookstores, but I am not totally against the latter either. Barnes as well as the vanished Borders were always good to me providing me a place to flip through books before purchase, have a cup of coffee reading a magazine, a place to write, or study, or play online chess. B&N today though, has a feel of seeing a great aunt before she passes away.
You can tell her inventory is thinning. Her shelves are not as packed as in her heyday, and are dummied-​up to look full. Yet the expected titles are still found. If not, the staff is willing to help you find it, and order it if need be.
She have taken away some chairs that made checking books out here easy. There is more face forward co-​opting. There seems to be more concentration on pop garbage. There seems to be a less emphasis on philosophy (other than the forced This TV Show and Philosophy series), high lit, and serious analysis on currents events (although a score of political polemics still vandalizes the east wall with their sophomoric titles less sophisticated in trolling than the Sharpie-​marker whit of middle school stall doors.)
The children-​reading selection here is a bit smaller than normal (it is a smaller store after all) The teen section takes up a lot of room Of course the store is clean and everything is accessible.
As for the café portion of the store: I tend not to get coffee here as I have had bad experiences in the past. Their mocha has been weakly made too many times, almost as if it were hot water with coco-​mix stirred in. Perhaps they have corrected the problem today, but for me: once bitten, twice shy.
O’Hara’s «Emergency» is not here. If I needed it for some important reasons other than the thrill of the chase I am sure their helpful counter could order it for me. But no. I got a feeling that fate and synchronicity is at play here. It is my summer time search.
In front are the cases of Nooks. One wonders if they are helping her stay afloat in the age of Kindles and IPads. They once had reading here, but I haven’t heard of any in a long, long time. It was a visit of remembrance and somber thoughts.

Staffing. What we so often miss most about a retailer is the staff who offer up suggestions, assistance and check-​out services. Barnes & Noble Booksellers in Upper Arlington, upon my recent and 3^rd or 4^th visit; showed me something. I was asked in a very non-​confrontational or intrusive way, «Can I help you with anything?». So nice to hear those words without it meaning anything more or less.
And in fact I was helped. I was looking for the book WILD AT HEART and couldn’t find it. The CSR (customer service rep) looked it up in under 15 seconds and I had it. Nice service, again.
What makes me a fan is the location of Barnes & Noble in UA. There is a Panera store to one side. A pharmacy to the other. And if the world really takes me places, a Giant Eagle, Houlihans, Chipotle, Wendys, Goodwill, 53 Bank, Get Go… it’s all there on 5-​Corners or very very nearby.
The UA Barnes and Noble might not be the biggest. It’s likely not the best. It does deserve 4-​stars for staffing and location. And books? Books are still cool even when a person (me) owns a Kindle. Something about holding a book is comforting.

This Barnes is one of the smaller ones. They don’t have much of a selection in the way of the typical (as in what I am used to, might not actually be average) Barnes.
I was able to find a copy of a magazine that had both last month and this month’s copy on the shelf. How does that happen? Anywho. Their ‘games’ section was very small and their Art section seemed only to be 1 shelf section. I overheard the Café staff get snippy with a customer, so I didn’t even bother with trying it out. I left quickly, due to the fact that I couldn’t find what I needed and it just wasn’t doing it for me.
I do not like leaving bad reviews. Someone, please tell me you had a good experience here?

This location has some of the most helpful staff.

To be honest, I hardly frequent this particular B&N anymore. If you think that overstudying at a place is impossible, think again. Not only was this my second home one summer when I was studying for the MCAT, it was also my second home for most of my undergraduate career.
Why this B&N, you may wonder. Aside from it being (literally) a 3-​minute drive from my place, it actually provides an atmosphere conducive to learning. Despite it being one of the smaller B&Ns, there was always ample seating; I never had to worry about sharing a table with strangers. Most times, it’s quiet enough to be able to hear a pin drop – assuming you’re in the café area. And, lastly, the coffee and food offerings. While I rarely ordered from the bake case, I am guilty of ordering way too many Starbuck’s beverages to fuel my study marathons. Panera and CVS are conveniently located next to B&N to satisfy my lunch/​dinner and snack/​sweet needs, respectively.
Employees and regulars are quite personable and friendly for the most part, and you get to learn to know them pretty well over time. (Another reason why I can’t study here anymore – I end up talking to everyone instead :).) Yes, you’ll get your oddballs every so often, but that’s expected in this type of setting.
Their music selection could be more pleasing. I heard Baha Men’s Who Let the Dogs Out blaring over the speakers on several occasions. Not entirely the store’s fault since it was B&N Radio. (Last I heard B&N radio is no longer broadcasting.)