Barnes & Noble

"A smaller space but more cosy and intimate than the large B&N bookstore which sadly closed its doors a year ago. The Union, NJ bookstore is definitely a fun, engaging place, even if it is smaller. It’s like a friendly neighborhood book store and has more of a community vibe. It’s a bright spot in that plaza. The bright, updated decor and layout, the open spaces with comfortable seats scattered throughout, and the creative displays all make for an inviting space to browse, socialize, and learn. Despite its size, the store hosts author engagement talks and the ones I’ve seen have been well attended. Finally, their gifts section is amazing, and their customer service is excellent — this is something Barnes and Noble is known for. The only drawback? No cafe; I was told Starbucks is opening a cafe in the same plaza and they did not want to compete with themselves if a cafe was opened in within the bookstore as well."

"I recently visited the Barnes & Noble on 22E and was shocked to find that there are no public restrooms available for customers. It's surprising that such a large store lacks this basic accommodation. To make matters worse, I noticed that employees were allowed access to their restroom while customers were denied. This experience has left me disappointed, and I can't recommend this store for that reason. I hope they consider making some changes for the convenience of their patrons."

"Good store. Smaller than other ones. The old store had cafe but this one got rid off it. Also getting to their location on 22 might not be an easy drive. The old one was bigger."

"The new location is about as warm and welcoming as an airport kiosk. No public restrooms. Seriously. There are no restrooms available to patrons. No coffee. Only a handful of chairs. The games section is just sad, the genre selections limited, and the decor is strictly "no nonsense, come in, get your book, this isn't a library, have a nice day". The staff is friendly and competent, and they deserve a better store. The entire place has a seasonal pop-up retail feel. This would be a one-star review if it wasn't for the unfortunate but very nice employees."

"A more streamlined Barnes & Noble than I’m used to but still great to see them around. I grew up spending so many hours inside Borders and Barnes & Nobles around NJ. It looks like they’ve changed around the concept so instead of a big or multilevel store, this B&N is instead a single story, cozier concept that’s still recognizable as a bookstore. They do have seats here and there, but this location doesn’t have a cafe. They’re within a strip mall with easy access from local or highway. All in all it’s nice to see bookstores still finding a way to keep going even if there’s a lot less space to lounge and read or do work."