Book lovers, rejoice! A new location of Barnes and Noble, the nation’s largest retail book vendor, has opened. This brand new “prototype” Barnes & Noble storefront is located at the Village of Rochester Hills in Rochester Hills, Michigan. Despite the closing of various stores around the nation, Barnes & Noble has chosen this to be the first new location in Michigan in over 13 years. This is the newest and first “prototype” store of its kind in all of Michigan and only the 10th in the nation.
With its new sleek and contemporary design, the ambiance is perfect for sitting back and relaxing with a book, perusing, browsing, and of course, shopping. This new location features many amenities such as the B&N Café, whimsical children’s section, communal seating, and tables, as well as outdoor seating in the patio area.
Barnes & Noble Storefront – B&N Cafe
The B&N Café serves many favorites from Starbucks alongside freshly baked goods, savory sandwiches, flatbreads, and soups. My kids loved the cupcakes the most and I chose the healthy grab-and-go options to enjoy while we decided how many new books we would take home.
I couldn’t pry them away from the amazing LEGO activity table featured in the Children’s Section. It includes a dedicated story time area as well as a huge “jungle gym” of toys and children’s characters from books.
Another amazing feature is the weekly story times and activities for kids in the Children’s area. Every Saturday the kids will get to enjoy the storytelling of a special book by one of the booksellers followed by an activity or craft. Kids will also receive a coupon from their Café for a grilled cheese sandwich with milk or juice.
Looking around, you can see that the customer’s convenience was the main focus in every detail. The low profile bookshelves allowed us to get a full panoramic view of the store without feeling overwhelmed. And the wayfinding signs which are illuminated help make finding everything as easy as taking a glance. The overall set up of the store is very welcoming. With most of the books displayed being cover out instead of binding out, it is truly any book lover’s dream come true. The intentional exhibition of books in this way encourages customers to be foster a natural inclination for exploration for kids and adults alike.
Our Experience at Barnes & Noble Storefront
My girls ended up picking out a bunch of books and puzzles from the Children’s section. I picked out some educational workbooks and toys for them as well. Even check out is a breeze at this location as each bookseller had their own tablets with immediate purchasing features from any area of the store. This mobile point of service makes it really convenient for someone to simply pick up their choice of items, purchase and be done, without having to return to a designated area for checkout. I know that it will definitely prove to be useful to me as my kids. Usually, they are not so inclined to wait in a line by the time I have told them we have to leave the bookstore, especially since they never want to leave the bookstore. Barnes & Noble Storefront at the Village of Rochester Hills really has a ton to offer and we cannot wait to enjoy it all in the future.
Barnes and Noble Storefront at the Village of Rochester Hills is located at 200 N Adams Rd, Rochester Hills, MI 48309 and store hours are Monday thru Saturday 9AM-10PM and Sunday 10AM-8PM.
Check out our articles about Storytimes in Oakland County, Indoor Places to Play in Oakland County or other great family venues in Rochester Hills.
Hi! I am a Muslim American-Bangladeshi wife and stay at home mommy of twin girls. I have a Bachelor’s of Science in Psychology from the University of Texas at Dallas. I moved to the Detroit area, more specifically Auburn Hills about a year and a half ago from Dallas, Texas and have been enjoying all that I can that the city has to offer. I love spending time with my two girls exposing them to various activities and fun to make them well rounded Muslim American Bangladeshis! Follow my personal Instagram @tazzybe3 to catch a glimpse of the twins’ daily adventures and navigating my life with 2 sassy toddlers!