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The bookstore chain Barnes & Noble confirmed that the Astor Place location will be closed due to high rents. A spokesperson told the Post, "We'd like to stay there, but we really can't afford it."
Business analysts have rated the chain's stock to be "overweight" or simply "neutral." We suppose they'll stay open to take advantage of the seventh and final Harry Potter book going on sale, but compared to the big Union Square location, the B&N at Astor Place always seemed a little too crowded. It is, however, where the "edgier" authors give readings - we saw Nick Hornby give a reading there in the mid-1990s.
Anyway, when this location closes, it also means one less Starbucks in the area. Walgreens will be opening up beneath the Barnes & Noble at some point in the future, but with Tower Records' closing down the street, we wonder what businesses think they can make bank by opening up in the increasingly pricey area. Maybe another Barney's Co-Op?
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This bums me out. That B&N was a great place to kill time.
Coming right up, more "luxury" condos!
From my experience, rents are running beyond what retailers can afford these days. How's $12,500/month for 300 square feet of retail space? I saw it the other day!
Oh man, now the lines at the Starbuck's bathroom across the street are going to be even longer.
Bummer! There goes an available restroom!
I haven't been inside of a Starbucks in a year, but I'm sad that I'll no longer be able to say that I know this one crazy intersection that essentially has a Starbucks across from a Starbucks across from a Starbucks (the one in the Cooper Union building, the one in B&N, and the other one). And alas, when I was a poor college student, that was the B&N I would go to for hours on end to read new books that I couldn't afford to buy.
I'm guessing it'll be a bank, since the nearest ATM lobby is at least 50 feet from that location.
Or another $tarbuck$.
While Gothamist wonders what will be going in, Curbed/Racked has the scoop..a gym.
However...kudos to Jen for no typos or grammatical errors this time.
Its feeloders like "SAD" or Park Slope Stroller Moms who use B&N as a library that are doing in their bricks & mortar stores
How ironic, I make fun of Jen the typo queen...and here I am making one myself (freeloader)!
As a former employee of that B&N (97-98) I know the current workers will miss the regulars. Where will "creepy old Italian man" hit on really young women at 9pm? Where will "woman with extra long q-tips taped in her ears" read history books? Where will woman who dumps her kids in the children's books section to go smoke crack in the bathroom go now? And for the love of god, what about all the snooty overly rushed housewives who need "that book Opra talked about this afternoon right f-ing NOW!" but don't know the author or title, only that the cover is red? I suspect these people will be wandering Union square in a daze for months, be afraid.
It's alright michael hunt, read the post a little closer and you'll be vindicated:
"Walgreens will be opening up on beneath the Barnes & Noble"...
Walgreens.. Gym.. I say a bank or a combination of the three.
I also used to work at this B&N, for a short time in 2004. The employees were all rather pleasant, it's a shame for them. And I, too, have some interesting memories about the stranger regulars, including the smelly guy with long, crusty fingernails who ordered 7 books at a time and bought maybe 1 of said books every other week.
It's definitely one of the nicer, less-intimidating (in size, that is) B&Ns in the city. And they have a really good poetry section.
The Walgreens is going in the old Astor Wines space, not in the Barnes and Noble space.
ck - She may actually be referring to the street "Beneath The Barnes & Nobel," where, in fact, a Walgreens is indeed opening. I.e., "Walgreens will be opening up on Beneath The Barnes & Nobel Street," or "Walgreens will be opening on Seventh Avenue." I think it's somewhere out in Queens. The "B" should have been capitalized, of course.
ok--
Thanks for pointing out yet another Jen Chung typo!
Isn't the rumor about a gym moving just speculation at this point? But it makes sense - $1000+ initiation fees, crazy monthly fees, etc.
And thanks for looking for all my typos and other errors. Lord knows what you'd say as my life coach.
What are you talking about TS, did you smoke crack in the B&N bathroom before writing your comment? Jen is only saying that the Walgreens will occupy the space beneath what is now B&N's second floor....where's the typo?
ts- That's a shame. I hear Beneath in Queens is a street full of great ethnic eats and cultural identity. Leave it to Wallgreens to initiate the gentrification process.
ck - I believe that there's also a Ruth's Chris opening up on Beneath, so it's not all bad.
How sad! I spend the rainy days of my high school years in that B&N! It had a great selection and clean(ish) bathrooms. My guess is it'll be another bank; what else?!
You guys are all missing the big point!!!
BARNES & NOBLE CAN'T AFFORD THE RENT!!!
When the B&N can't pay the bills, then the bills *are* too friggin' high!
Seriously, the implications of this are really rather frightening. Tower's one thing... but B&N? They're the ones who used to drive the little shops away because they could pay big rents, and now they can't pay?
The bubble's gonna burst, friends... buy gold...
oh! LOVE that place, not to mention the name. Rolls off the tongue. That neighborhood could use a good steakhouse.
Yeah, love that place too. It should be a good match for that bar they're putting up up on Beneath, 'Bottom's Up On Beneath.'
"Bottom's Up On Beneath" on Beneath is opening up on beneath the new Walgreens space, i think...?
Something tells me that B&N won't be the last large company who can't afford the super high rents in this city. I know it sounds like a broken record when people say the bubble's gonna burst (like Tim above), but one day it will.
Then again, a lot of people use B&N stores more like a library/place to hang out than a bookstore (yours truly included) so that plus super high rents equal closure.
Oh, really? I thought I heard that it was opening up on Beneath above Walgreens. Now that you mention it, I think that what's opening up on Beneath beneath Walgreens is "Filene's Basement Beneath Walgreens. On Beneath."
You should put that comedic wit to good use and be a writer or something.
What kind of world do we live in where Huge Conglomerates can't get a break? This is just sad as hell. and Barney's Co-OP? What the fuck?!!!! It's ridiculous! At least Barnes and Nobles catered to many people and the public. Barney's Co-Op is for rich white females who only need to buy 3 garments for them to stay in business. Those rhinestone Parasuco jeans that cost $5000.00 each? New York is only for the rich.
Yeah, in my dreams. Maybe someday. Until then I'm just a humble frog salesman posting on Gothamist.
omg, frog salesman? I have this weird thing for frog salesmen, but haven't told anyone. Maybe you shouldn't be so humble.
"New York is only for the rich."
And the very poor. There's no in-betweens nowadays. The middle class are on their way out. The only people to occupy NYC are going to be rich, poor and tourist.
Well, we're a humble breed. To be honest, I'm really just a frog salesman middle-man. I connect potential clients with the actual frog dealers. It's kind of complicated. Good thing postings don't count as reaching out, according to the 'Reaching Out Handbook.' Have you read that? You can find it beneath the Barnes And Nobel on Beneath Street...coming soon.
I try to avoid the self-help section, so I haven't read it, but maybe I should. I'm sure it has some useful words of wisdom.
In other news, this is now one of the most commented posts. Who knew happenings over on Beneath could generate such an impassioned response?
Do you think it's because people are so passionate about Barnes And Nobel? From what I can tell, it could just as easily have been 13-Year-Old Arrested For Defacing School Desk...it's just about hide and seek. Or lost and found.
I read many a a books at the local b&n but a few things that irk me when i'm at a b&n; people who take their shoes off to read, people who spend 10hrs a day on the same seat(imagine smelling that seat afterwards, YUCK!) people who talk on their cell phones while people are actually reading. i have some more but i'm going to the gym
Very sad. I was one of the staff that opened Astor Place B&N back in '94. The manager bought a bottle of champagne from Astor Wine next door (since moved) and broke it open on the steps while we all cheered. I wonder who gets that naked painting of Michael Musto that used to hang over the stairs? Oh well, Union Square can more than pick up the traffic.
Ha, good for you Javier-let off some steam.
As for you ts, I have nothing else. Nice one.
Anybody else here that was part of the crew of ol' B&N #2619 back in the autumn of 1994? Sound off!
See you on Beneath Street. Or on the boards.
Gnight, stranger.
It HAS to be a bank, or luxury condos, or both, so you can get a 300 year mortage to pay off you condo.
Since when is Nick Hornby an "edgy" author? Next up, Gothamist ponders the new indie-lit sensation, John Grisham.
This really stinks. Astor Place B&N is a great store! In addition to Union Square, tho, there is a B&N on 8th & 6th. It's much smaller than Astor or Union, but it's cozy and nice
Well I guess us "Bookheads" will have to go elsewhere .
Seems to me this is probably just a public way for B&N to scare their other landlords. B&N probably would leave Astor Place anyway since Union Square isn't that far away. And by crying high rent, they can put their other landlords on notice not to raise it. What gym will go there? Maybe one of the new Lance Armstrong 24 Hour Fitness centers. That wouldn't surprise me.
:-( just hope that the ST. MARKS BOOKSHOP across the way doesn't get squeezed out along with the rest...