* heart eyes emoji* If im not buying online, or small owned bookstores I love a good Barnes & Nobel stroll In Grossmont center . Next to Jamba Juice. Clean, good space layout, CLEAN restrooms. This place is dangerous. Awesome for books, accessories and gifts for book readers and a nice sort of toys and gadgets for all ages. Friendly staff and a few membership perks. read more

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I've always loved this store and have been here a million times when my children were younger. We decided to stop here before going to the movies. It's got AC, great magazine section and every book you can think of. But the bathrooms are locked. But even weirder: I'm standing outside the bathroom trying the door, an employee walks by, sees me, gives me a weird look and keeps going. Inconvenient and unkind. I had four books I wanted to buy. I'll go home and order them online. read more

Really fun place to browse. Great books, gifts and toys. Lovely service. Found a number of unique gifts.

This place has a zillion books and if you wanted to spend a week looking for what you came in for or if you just wanted to browse, it would be great. As you walk in the door there is no chart to say where this or that section is located or hanging signs from the ceiling. Just signs in the middle of the sections themselves. Real helpful! :( To say there is a sparsity of floor staff would be an understatement and there is no button you can push to summon anyone. Total fail on their part. I finally yelled over the very long line to the checkout counter whether there was someone who could help me. The total toad said I should just stand in line. Excuse me! I am not standing in line for 15 minutes before I even have something to purchase. Some staffer heard me from the depths and came to tell me that she could help and that I needed to calm down. Well buggar that. She did lead me to the correct section and began perusing books herself to find the Windows 11 ones. I assured her that I was capable of finding what I wanted now that I was in the correct section. As soon as the words were out I saw what I wanted. I had acutally looked it up online before I came so I knew they had it. Something about the gray hair seems to make people assume that you need more help than you do. I want people to ask if I need any more help not just proceed to provide it. Maybe that's just me being senstitive but I am pretty sure I felt the same way when my hair was a rich chocolate brown. I won't go into the cashier thinking I needed to be helped out with the CC machine. I have been paying with plastic longer than she has been alive! Grrrrr! The book was actually several dollars cheaper on Amazon but I am going to be upgrading from 10 to 11 and I wanted to look at the book before buying. At 72 my brain is still sharp but the eyes (even with trifocals) is not. I already bought one book I am having to return because the illustrations are crap quality. Too small and light. Also, books don't always arrive in sterling condition and I didn't want to have to return and wait for the replacement. read more

If you are waiting for another appointment, relax and browse some books at Barnes & Noble! We love books, and my husband especially enjoys books and magazines about sports, cars, and motorcycles. The store is large, and they have a restroom and a Starbucks if you need it. read more

Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Bookstores Near Me - La Mesa, California

Last night I had the pleasure of attending a free Tarot Tutorial event "Learning The Basics" at the Grossmont Barnes and Noble taught by Bookseller Shelby. I love that this location does these sorts of events. From time to time there is a table that showcases "Book Blind Dates" which I absolutely love. This store to me appears to think outside the box of a major bookstore chain! It almost feels like a quaint neighborhood bookstore at times with the engagement from the staff who is always friendly and helpful. read more

Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Free Tarot Tutorial event notification - Bookstores Near Me - La Mesa, California

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How can you go wrong with a store stocked with books? Everything was neat & well displayed. My husband was looking for a particular magazine & was overwhelmed with the selection. read more

No bathroom for customers. I am disabled and i am told i am not allowed to use the bathroom unless i walk very far to do so. Last time i was here i heard some very sad little manager bro crying/whining at a female employee about a homeless guy in the bathroom. Not only was the guy not doing anything wrong, this sad manager was asking a female employee to deal with it..? Are you serious? Another Barnes & Noble won't be getting my money ever again... ugh. read more

Stopped by this place with a friend after checking out the Vegan Night Market that happens in the nearby parking lot. I haven't stepped into a B&N in years, so it was very nostalgic to be back in one! This store runs straight through from the outside parking to the inside of the mall, so it's one long store. There are registers on either end though, so you don't have to worry about walking back and forth to check out. Walking towards the inside of the mall (parking end towards the mall end), you'll pass the cafe on your right, customer service desk on your left, and then the children's section on your right before you reach the mall end; the opposite applies when walking from the mall end to the parking end. My friend and I spent a couple hours perusing all of the aisles since it had been awhile either of us stepped foot inside a B&N. The store is fairly stocked and organized with books, but I think it's fair to say it could do with a couple upgrades and/or tidying. The staff are very approachable and helpful. My friend and I asked separate staff members for assistance and they were able to help us find what we were looking for. In the end my friend bought a book and I got a puzzle and sketch journal for myself. Checkout was easy with no hiccups. Overall, it was a great experience and I wouldn't mind coming back. read more

Barnes and Noble isn't great as far as good bookstores go, but I never thought I would be driven to write a review about this particular location's rude employee. I was at a calendar kiosk trying to make a selection. The employee Daniel pushed right in front of me to place a calendar back in a slot. He then commenced to turn the kiosk and I noticed he had several calendars in his hand. I inquired if he planned to be there long, but he said he just had to replace a few, all this with no eye contact. This was such a rude thing to do and I told him so. I also told him that my money, if spent at this establishment went to pay his salary. He finally uttered a weak apology and I said, "Yes, apologies are in order!" I tried to resume my perusal of the calendars and he said, "What? You are ordering me?" I said, "No, Daniel. An apology is in order! Meaning, you just did the right thing. If you don't understand English, perhaps you shouldn't be working in a bookstore!" I'll admit, this last bit was a low blow, but I'm sure he really didn't understand what my meaning was. I hope Barnes and Noble starts training staff how to treat there customer base, ie., simple rules of etiquette. I'm sure even Daniel himself would not have wanted to be treated the way he treated me today. Get it together B&N! read more

Public bathroom not available. I've come here since I was in elementary school. I only came to this mall because my sister worked at Rubios next door when I was 5. Times changed and this place is great and renovated nicely in the kids section is so cute! I love the magazines. Grew up buying so much top gear, but now I'm into diy stuff, home decor and all things Martha Stewart influenced haha. Homeless population outside is nuts, but that's the malls fault. The staff here are sooooooo nice! They give our dog treats and take pictures with her of course with permission! The staff baby talk our dog because they know us! We come here with our family and find new things to learn and have a moment to soak in a modernized feel of a trendy library. I just hope they can get security for the homeless outside maybe work with the mall, possibly get automatic doors that open with sensors because people that come here as customers do not thank you when you hold the door! In fact when I open the door for my own family- strangers have the audacity to walk in FRONT of my party of people and it's so disrespectful. They never hold the door for us either! Selfish world. Anyways just please fix the bathroom here at barnes! It's our fave place in La Mesa and a precious piece of family memories :) thanks read more

Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Bookstores Near Me - La Mesa, California

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The store itself is fine. Good selection of books. Some of the staff is really nice. However the woman at checkout is just rude. We approached the register, no one else was in line. She was passive aggressively huffing and puffing the entire transaction (literally all I was buying were two kid books.) Then she asks if I have my rewards card and I say no and she lets out this super exaggerated heavy sigh and says "what's your email then" and then sighs the entire time I am telling her. Then as we are walking away she like sighs in disgust after I tell her thanks. Honestly older people are always talking about how young people have no manners but this lady was old enough to be my mother and she was just passive aggressive and nasty. If you don't like people, go work in the stockroom or something. read more

You got books, you got toys, you got a place to sit down to read and play. I don't think you need to ask for more, the largest collection of knowledge you ever had, whichever fit your tastes, go for it, also a starbucks coffee next door perfect for you to grab one and read books read more

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I've been to this store several times over the years. It's in a popular shopping mall...there is plenty of parking, however can be a problem during busy times. I am sad to see many of these stores closing, I hope this one stays. Although Internet books can be sometimes more convenient, there is nothing like a real hard copy of a book in your hand. With young kids in the family, it's nice to read to them and they enjoy seeing pictures and turning the pages. I love the children's section. Kids love it! This is a huge store with a wide variety books to choose from. They always have a bargain book area... with great prices. Also the most popular books are often 20% off. There is also a wonderful toy section..with many educational and fun toys for all ages. They also have a customer service area that can look up a book you might be looking for and direct you to the location. The staff here are friendly and very friendly. I recommend that you purchase a yearly membership.. which is $25. Then you get extra 10% off everything including clearance! You will also receive coupons throughout the year. This store also has a nice Starbucks right next door...and clean bathrooms in the store. I highly recommend this store and look forward to going back! read more

This is a great B&N's because the space is massive and there's a Starbucks next door. I wish there were more places to sit and read but I definitely understand why there's a limited number of chairs. There's always a nice steady flow of people coming in and out of here. Also the kids section is nice but I just wish they would be quiet but hey they're kids. I'm sure you can find just about anything you want and more. One of my favorite sections is the travel and Military history. If you come during the right time you may find some good deals. read more

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Used to be my favorite place to get away from my phone and TV and get into a great book. But I kept getting RWB vibe from security. Just suspicious attention. Followed me out of the store tonight. Same "why are you here vibe from the 3Kashier. After years of coming here Ill be reading and buying my books from the Santee. store. read more

I could spend hours here just walking the bookshelves.  One of the more spacious locations in San Diego. The travel section here is one of the better ones among the San Diego locations I have been to in terms of selection.  I know I can order online but I like the satisfaction of looking over a book before buying and walking out with it. Plenty of parking because of its location. read more

I love Barnes and Nobles and this location is really neat. It is located in the Grossmont Center Mall, making t very convenient, and is connected to a Starbucks because everyone knows how Book lovers enjoy drinking tea and coffee while reading. They often have items on sale which is really great, but they also offer their membership club where you can get an additional 10% off your purchases, totally worth it if you buy a lot of books or even other items. Speaking of other items, this is a great place to find educational toys and games for the kids, as well as game board and card games for the whole family or even collectors items like funko for the avid collector. They even have unique office and art supplies as well as some other fun gifts. The best thing about this Barnes and Nobles are the events they have. They had a Lego Batman event, different live book reading events for children to be read to and large events for the whole family. I attended the Yule Ball where customers dressed up as Harry Potter characters in their finest robes, watched the local Steam Academy band perform lively music and made Wizard related crafts like potions. It was a lot of fun and way beyond what you'd expect from a book store. You just can't get that experience buying a book on Amazon. However, if you do prefer to buy online, Barnes and Nobles also sells many books online and even has opportunities for buying used books. Prices are comparable to Amazon and if you have the discount membership you can save additional cash. There's just no reason to buy a book anywhere else. You can get them for the same cost as any other online store, but when you buy from B&N you are supporting one of the world's now rare commodities, a brick and mortar bookstore. It would be a travesty if they ever closed so I will continue to support my favorite bookstore and I hope you do too! read more

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I like this Barnes & Nobles. They have a great selections of genres and most importantly, they have a great staff that will help you what you are looking for. I recently went on vacation and was looking to purchase some literature on the area I was going to for points of interest and the local culture. A young lady, one of the employees easily directed me to the right area and help me find exactly what I needed. She was quite nice and helpful. In addition to the great selection of books and magazines at this location, there is also a Starbucks right next door with door access between both places. They have seating at this Barnes & Noble and Starbuck's beverages and eats are allowed in the store while fingering or reading your newly discovered piece of literature. read more

Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Bookstores Near Me - La Mesa, California

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I haven't been in Barnes & Noble in a long time. The last time I was here the atmosphere seemed more relaxing. They have lots of books (the usual book selections in most book stores). On this day I wondered through they were stocking the shelves with more books (new arrivals) and changing things around, it felt busy and crowded. A few other people in the shop were wondering around like me and some were sitting in chairs that didn't look comfortable thumbing through books. Maybe it was all the commotion the employees were making that prevented them from greeting you or offering any assistance. They were busy changing and rearranging the shelves that I don't think they even noticed me or the few other customers in the store. Not the best experience. read more

It's just an average Barnes & Noble. Not bad, and fairly well-kept. Nothing glaringly negative to report. I feel you can rely on it for your regular book/magazine needs, just as for any other bookstore. There is a connecting Starbucks from inside the store, which is nice too. read more

The amount of times I've been to Barnes & Noble is honestly ridiculous. Occasionally, I'll go to just waste time, and I have yet to run out of things to discover!! I could spend hours just browsing books, and with the Starbucks next door, I'm honestly considering moving in. read more

This store is bigger than the Hazard Center (Mission Valley) location. I love coming here to read... so many cool books! I don't mind reading through my tablet or phone, but when possible, I prefer a real book. In addition to books they sell their e-reader "The Nook", Rosetta Stone language software, board games, toys, plush animals, and more. They have a great selection of study guides SAT, NCLEX, GRE, GMAT, LSAT, etc. And pretty much books on nearly anything you can think of. They also have a huge kids book section. My God-daughter loves the kids area... we can stay there for hours. From time to time they offer story time when they select a children's book that the will read. She's also a big fan of Dr. Who and they have a huge selection of merchandise here. A while back they also had a mini concert in the store which was pretty cool. If I remember correctly, the concert benefited the music program at a local school. From time to time, I've seen postings about authors coming to the store for book signings. Another cool thing about this B&N is there's a Starbucks right next door that you can enter from the bookstore. They even have an area in the store, with a handful of tables, where you can consume your beverage and read a book or two. It's not uncommon to see people monopolize these tables, especially on weekends. Customer service is good, a while back I asked for help finding a Chuck Palahniuk book... they offered to order it because they didn't have it in stock. I ended up using Amazon because I didn't need the book right away. Overall, this is a great B&N and I will continue to come to this location. read more

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I visit this bookstore out of convenience, so location is a huge pro for me. There are plenty of parking spaces. This is a great place to read, and I love that it's next to Sharp and the rest of the Grossmont community. Like many Barnes & Noble, they offer a vast selection of books. The staff is very friendly, and often very eager to help you find whatever you need. They have held random titles for me when I've called ahead, and the pre-orders are very easy to access. They are next door to a Starbucks that opens until 11PM on Fridays and Saturdays, so if you're ever craving caffeine at an unreasonable time of night, this is the place to be :) read more

The customer service is horrible. You can't find anyone on the floor to ask a question. Finally came across a man, asked him if he works here because I didn't see his paper badge. He gave me the most condescending look and showed me his badge and stated a yeah... I wasn't going to assume he worked there, hence me asking. He stated there should be a person at the desk in the middle and I told him nobody was there. He stated well we don't stay behind the desk all day. Really! Is being rude really necessary when your first duty is to provide good or basic customer service?! Never will go there again. read more

Friendly staff, great book selection. They hoped me not only check they had the book I was looking for but even walked with me to it and made sure I found it. Best customer service ever read more

I was here for a local author signing. It was an awesome event. Ethan Howard is the author whose work I edit. He was charming and personable and people loved his book! Re Barnes and Noble, it is a bookstore... how can it go wrong?! Other than high pricing, it's a bookstore. A place filled with knowledge, entertainment, and far away places. How can it go wrong. read more

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Stop in to pick up some book that I brought online, and also browsed for more books to add into my office collections of books. As I waited in the line to cashed out with five books (over 200-400 pages per book) in my arms. The cashier name Jojo waited on me, this is what transpired. I have picked up her vibes and it was not welcoming, as earlier she was in line before me chatting up with another customer. We exchanged glances. Apparently she make a quick assessment on me. Even though, no pleasantry were exchanged. I believed she quickly assessed that I was a "FOB!" When she helped the other customer to the counter of cashiers. She moved to the inside. As she notice the line started to lined up. She reluctantly open up a cash station being I am the next in line. I can tell she tried if she could get away from not have to wait on me. Too bad, luck wasn't on her side. When I walked up to her station. I showed her that I have a book on hold from the text I have received in my Iphone; in additions to the books in my arms. She asked for my ID, I shown her, my Department of Veterans Affair Picture ID. (In her defense, she probably wasn't aware what that ID was.) Then she was having difficulty ringing up my already purchased booked online. I brought to her attention that I have already purchased it; thus logic in her tiny mind clicked; which was already shown on her station's computer screen to confirmed what I have mentioned. She asked me if I like a bag for my books. I wonder what in her small mind thinks I can carry these without a bag? Then she asked if I am a member with Barnes & Nobles. I said yes, and given my phone number. Turned out it has expired. She states I can get the membership renewed with 10% off the entire purchased. I renewed it, and then I asked if I can get a physical card of the Barnes & Nobles' reward card. It is clearly out of her scope of practice. She immediately info me that I need to speak with her manager about it to get a physical card of Barnes & Nobles. Rude. Since the lined has formed, I decided not to speak with the manager. Yet, this is the first time coming into a Barnes & Nobles for the last 20 years to received such a hated experienced from one of its employees. For my future preference, I would picked up my books from Mission Valley location from now on. read more

From the moment my girlfriend and I walked in, we were treated terribly! And my girlfriend has an account with them! We have always loved books and barnes n noble has been, until this incident, one of our favorite places. I felt so uncomfortable that I didn't enjoy reading anything while I was there. I couldn't wait to get out of there! The security guard stayed a couple of steps away from us at all times. Notes neither of us are thief's I didn't even have a purse or backpack but I am covered in tattoos including face tattoos, I felt so judged. We will never be returning to this store and will not recommend this store to anyone. read more

I go to a lot of Barnes and nobles across the country. This one is very good and friendly staff. It's a little small with no cafe, but there's a Starbucks right next door so that's ok. This is a good store with a large selection of books and magazines for good shopping and reading. read more

Great bookstore, helpful, friendly staff. Selection and supply are always great and the magazine section can't be beat.

I'm puzzled as to how Bookstores are staying in business now-a-days, but B&N seems to be hanging on by offering an in-store experience that is pretty solid. There is storytime for your children where they can listen to a story and then have an opportunity to purchase the book (sometimes at a discount). This particular store has an interesting layout which gives you plenty of room to shop. It seems to go on forever and I'm pretty sure if this store doesn't have your book, then you are out of luck. I really like the location of this store, it's central to Mission Valley in an area with plenty of parking and an easy to navigate shopping plaza. I think the best thing about this Barnes and Nobel is that the atmosphere is very calm and serene. When you walk in, you're very motivated to browse for a good book and then bury yourself in it slash evaluate for purchase. Don't forget - if you're a Barnes and Noble member, you save 10% off everything on your order (it's $25 to sign up - and they will hound you about this). You can also get free shipping on BN.com with a membership. read more

We needed to update our new calendars for 2021 we called Barnes & Noble and Ashley was able to assist with our purchase she directed us to various options available for calendar books she suggested a pink one for my friend who totally fell in love with it. I picked it up curbside the evening that it was ordered and Andrea brought it to the vehicle very impressed with the service from the La Mesa Barnes and Noble we will continue to shop there when the pandemic is over and be able to return to the store my friend is 86 years old. read more

Love this place. I wish the books weren't so expensive but it is what it is I guess. Besides that I really love Barnes and Nobles and I really enjoy coming here to sit and read for a while. read more

Love this bookstore! They have a huge selection and if something isn't in stock they get it to you very quickly. I think they're doing a good job with the ever changing mask guidelines. I felt very comfortable in the store last time I was there during the holiday rush, there was a lot of room and I didn't feel cramped read more

I love the convenience of this Barnes & Noble. the workers here are all so friendly and really enjoy what they do, which is a really refreshing environment to be in! I came in looking for Kobe Bryant's new book "The Wizenard Series: Training Camp" and a lovely employee named Kim helped me find it with ease! When I came to buy Kobe's first book, "The Mamba Mentality: How I Play" a very kind gentleman helped me find the book and was really intrigued with the book itself, which made me all the more happy to buy it! I highly recommend coming here as it so lively and full of happiness. The parking here can be kind of annoying as they are one-way parking roads but you will always find a spot. it's also connected to a Starbucks and has a Jamba Juice right next door. across the street is a BJ's and I love spending time here when I'm waiting for a table. the shopping center in general is very convenient and a great way to spend a day off! read more

Always lots of things to check out... Lots of books (obviously)... As well as other small items... Lots of educational toys for kids.. staff are friendly enough. The store is generally clean, but space is a bit tight. There's a Starbucks right next door, yay! Some items are a bit overpriced, you can probably get some things cheaper from other places... But I do like looking at the bargain section where a lot of the books are less than $10. read more

Summertime & the livin's easy......... Hurrah!! Am done reading my first book of the summer as of tonight. Now it is onto the next book (which i started today,-double hurrah! hurrah!). Yippppeeeeeee. I almost forgot how much I truly adore reading. Barnes & Noble, good for every ones booking needs. **Hot Tip: If you don't feel like spending your hard earned cash on a book, feel free to lounge around the store a few hours a day till you finish your read. There is a Starbucks attached. Go in, grab a latte then read your heart out. read more

Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Bookstores Near Me - La Mesa, California

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This B&N store is one of my favorite places in Grossmont Center. My first stop always includes the sprawling sale books and remainder tables and shelves. There is always a fine selection of marked down books available, in virtually every subject imaginable. Well, not every subject, but most. I mean, why pay full price for a book about crock pot recipes or classic car photos? I've always been able to find what I was looking for, owing to the very organized layout of this store. The onsite inventory is quite impressive. Oh, and the incredibly well-stocked magazine rack will stop you in your tracks. For addicts of overpriced caffeine drinks, Starbucks is right next door, easily accessible through a doorway from the bookstore. I generally don't need any help when in a bookstore, but I've found the checkout staff to be fast and efficient. I always get badgered about joining their 'club', and always say No. And when I hand them my AmEx, they always say Yes. read more

Mission Valley Location--Matthew wowed me & my daughter with his crisp knowledge, readiness to help (way beyond) & friendly manner. Was able to buy an authentic ethnic cookbook with---what else(?) exceptional pictures! Thank you, Matt!! Will make this Barnes & Noble our exclusive bookstore. read more