I needed some books for two baby shower presents and I was surprised I was able to find these hardcover baby books! Their Children's section was MASSIVE AND incredibly welcoming! I remember bringing my son to their story time, as a little boy- now he's 20, so he's out grown it, but I'm glad post pandemic, this event is still happening! I loved finding all the various authors and craft books and "how to" sets! They even had some science sets! The only drawback, I'd say was how the outside trash can was overflowing and there were flies all over. So I didn't walk by it. I'm sure that's going to attract the wrong type of attention, so that's the only reason why I'm giving them a 4 instead of 5 stars. However, everything within the book store was clean and organized. So I appreciated that. I'll be back, I'll just park away from the public trash can hee. read more

Barnes & Noble Booksellers - I loved finding these classics! - Bookstores Near Me - San Jose, California

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I love Barnes & Noble, and I've always enjoyed coming to the Stevens Creek location. However, the condition of the bathrooms is extremely disappointing. The bathrooms are often filthy and have a strong, unpleasant smell, even during the daytime. This is a basic hygiene issue that should not be overlooked. Bathrooms are one of the easiest areas to keep clean when they are properly maintained, and these clearly need a serious, thorough scrub and more frequent attention. Management should be ashamed that customers are being exposed to these conditions. Barnes & Noble is a great store, but the poor bathroom hygiene at this location really takes away from the overall experience. I hope management takes this seriously and makes cleanliness and sanitation a priority. read more

Stopped by this location about a week ago because I was looking for a particular book for my son. I asked three different employees for help finding the type of book I was looking for, and unfortunately, all three were completely unhelpful and unfriendly. Nobody seemed to know where anything was located, and each time I asked a question, I felt like I was bothering them. Customer service was extremely disappointing. Unfortunately, I won't be returning to this location. Never again! read more

I haven't been to Barnes & Noble in a long time. There aren't many locations left but the Santa Clara one withstood the times with the everchanging tech environment. I stopped by to look for music CD and manga. The store has a dedicated section for movies, music and games in the front of the store. It's a huge size bookstore spreading different sections of categories, magazines, and a kids area. There is a coffee station in the center and tables where you can read and work as it's pretty quiet inside. The manga section is big and the magazines as well. There were quite a bit of KPop magazines amongst others. You'll find quite a few things you didn't think of when you come across cute and unique accessories. If you want to get out of the outside and enjoy a quiet atmosphere, it's Barnes & Noble. read more

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Went to Barnes & Noble on a Saturday afternoon and was surprised (and happy) by how crowded it was. Nice to see people shopping and studying and drinking coffee at the last B&N in San Jose. Fortunately, it's a spacious store with room for everyone. It's also nice that there is a dedicated parking lot in the back, again with enough parking for everyone. I went there looking for a specific Miffy keychain, but the Miffy goods were picked over pretty good and they didn't have it. Ended up leaving with two books, a journal, two chocolate bars, a reusable shopping bag, and a Miffy blind box. It was a pretty good shopping spree. read more

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Love bookstores and this one is huge. Probably the last one in the Bay Area. There's a huge area just for kids books. The store has 2 entrances. The back entrance is probably best because there's more parking in the back. There's cashiers at both doors too. Cafe is directly in the middle of the store with a few tables to work and hang out. They have a decent sized section for animes. I really hope they don't close this one down. read more

Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Bookstores Near Me - San Jose, California

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I love this Barnes and Noble. It's always a pleasant experience visiting this location, and the cafe has some indulgent treat options too. Everyone here is super friendly and welcoming. read more

One of my New Year's goals is to read more and so I'm grateful there's still one Barnes and Noble location close enough to home. It's easy to lose track of time in there because there so much to see. Everything for the most part is pretty well laid out so you can find what you're looking for. The staff is also super helpful and attentive in case you can't find something specific. There's ample parking which is always a plus! I'll definitely be back again for more books! read more

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After the advent of e-commerce, my trips to physical stores drastically reduced. A gift card to Barnes and noble prompted me to visit the store for the first time and I must say I was impressed. In addition to books, they have a significant collection of toys for all age ranges, an in-house coffee shop, stationery items etc. They have little write ups for some book sections describing them which were pretty neat! They also have deals like buy one get one half off. It felt like entering a treasure trove and I enjoyed the experience. They do not do price match but they have BN membership at $40 per year using which members can get 10% off. read more

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Need to write about the racial discrimination I received from the woman in the music section on Sunday January 6, 2026. I walked into the music section to browse and received no greeting. Meanwhile, I noticed that the white customers who walked in after me received very friendly greetings of "hello, welcome in." Then, when I approached said woman behind the counter to ask her a question, she literally just stared at me. I was waiting for her to greet me but I realized she wasn't planning on addressing me, so that made for an awkward moment as I pivoted to my question. Quite incredible how openly rude and racist she is, as she showed her clear contempt for a person of color daring to speak to her. I also came across an older white man who was quite useless and lacking in knowledge about store products. I asked if the holiday wrapping paper was 50% off because there was no signage and he told me that "it probably will be later on." What?! It's already 10 days after Christmas and you don't think it'll be on sale til later? One quite look at their website showed me that it was indeed 50% off. This is the customer service from Barnes & noble in Santa Clara in 2026 apparently. You can bet I'll be taking my business elsewhere. read more

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OMG! I would never go this location again. I don't understand how this people got this job, this is Barnes & Noble bookstore, and people are always hard to find what they are looking for, so when I tried to find a book for my daughter so I asked if they have it in the store, they just had a deep breath to me and make me feel like I shouldn't be asking any questions. Also I see the people lined up for the Pokemon cards to purchase, but one of the old lady and the other lady was super disrespectful to the customer. I was closed enough to hear them but they just disrespected to the customers to all of them. I rather to go different locations and treated as customers. I hope they are old enough to know how to treat customers. Just go find the other job has no customer service. read more

I love going to and supporting bookstores like barnes and nobles to explore books, new ones, classics, and by genres that I'm interested in. The book selection here is super comprehensive and you can find like everything here!!! I spent like an hour or more in here because I'm an active reader and was curious about the little written book summaries and recommendations from the staff. They're so fun to read and made me want to get into some of their recommendations they were showing off! I also loved the board game selection and variety. I was looking for a specific one and I'm glad they had it here! Priced pretty close to original. They really have a game for everyone too. The puzzle selection is also fun to look through, I got a 1000 piece hello kitty one last time that I finished. I appreciate that there's a starbucks in here to get a drink and chill with a computer or a book to read. I do wish there were more seating areas to read since it can be a little noisy at the starbucks. I noticed some single wooden chairs but they were taken up. There's also a junior section of the store that is huge as well that would be good for younger kids! I'm coming back here when I need some book/game inspiration again! read more

Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Comments on highlighted books - Bookstores Near Me - San Jose, California

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I just love a good Barnes and Noble. From the money you walk in to the staff that's always willing to help. To the fact that everyone there just loves books. This location specifically is dear to me. In such a busy corner, you find peace and quiet. read more

Grace and Audri (I believe that's how it's spelled) were absolutely wonderful! They were both so kind, welcoming, and genuinely helpful during my visit to the bookstore. They made the experience enjoyable from start to finish, and their great customer service really stood out. Thanks again--you both were amazing! read more

This is still my most favorite location. I was very sad when the store at Almaden closed because it was so close, but after returning to this store I realized how much I missed this location. It just offers so much more in every genre. And the children's book area is wonderful. Seriously people need to take their kids so they can enjoy the gift of reading. I went there looking for a book that was released that day and just couldn't find it. The sales person checked and they should have had 3 copies and went to look for it. Both of us looked in multiple sections and it still could t be found. He went into the back in case it wasn't shelved yet but nope. So he enlisted additional help and between the two of them it took a while but they were persistent and finally located the book. That was amazing customer service! read more

I'm sad that so many bookstores are closing. I love coming to this Barnes and Noble and walking around. I love supporting smaller bookstores but they just don't have the same variety that B&N does. This location is huge (not as big as the multi-floor ones I've seen) but the variety is amazing. I love just walking around and perusing the aisles. I hope that this store is getting enough traffic and support. While I was roaming, the Starbucks Barista offered me a sample of their new Caramel Ribbon Crunch drink which I was surprised by! Parking is always easy around the building and it's always a great experience coming here. read more

Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Bookstores Near Me - San Jose, California

Really friendly and helpful staff. Great selection and I love how the place is organized. There's lots of good notes from staff with suggestions for reading and they have cute custom displays. I typically prefer smaller bookstores but nowadays I'll take any places that sell physical books with kind people who genuinely care. To customers that I noticed while I visited last: Return the favor and try to be nice back. Don't break the rules that are very openly posted on the door and then complain when you are asked not to. read more

Usually have good experiences at this Barnes cafe. However, the one employee at the cafe is super rude and gives the biggest mean girl energy. I said "hi", she just stared at me up and down with a frown on her face. When I ordered she just said "ok" and that was the whole interaction. I don't usually care if people talk to me or not but coupled with the way she was looking at me, it just felt super off. Idk who's hiring here, but at least try to get people who seem so bothered by someone ordering a coffee. read more

Specifically, Ariel and Olivia at the coffee bar made my day! I ordered an apple pie bar dessert. Ariel offered whipped cream on top. WOW!! I never thought to ask, but it made the dessert even yummier. Thanks!! read more

I generally love bookstores and have been supporting Barnes and Nobles for years. But yeah if you are gonna keep my fur baby out (from the cafe and the restroom) then we have nothing to talk about. Why don't you look at how many closed stores you have to date and how little stores you have left and decide what to say to your used to be loyal customer. Bye Felicia. You can close this location down as well while you are at it :) Thanks for being such a supportive community lol Kicking someone out for doing their homework with their pup at the cafe. I don't need anyone to tell me that this is a food service so no dogs allowed. Nobody even knew we were there until this Karen came to us. I will not step foot here again because you are closing down anyway. -10 stars! Read the review! read more

It was my first time at this B&N location! Clean store, found what I was looking for right away. Will be back for more books in the future read more

Barnes & Noble Booksellers - "The Let Them Theory & Art of War" - Bookstores Near Me - San Jose, California

***Proceed with caution at this locations Starbucks!!!*** I came in yesterday, 2/1, after a long time, with my aunt to purchase a couple of books and I was very excited upon entering the store; I immediately noticed the lovely smell of books, everything was organized & neat, and it was filled with curious people wandering around, searching for their next read. I was instantly enthralled with nostalgia, as I spent much time at this store during my college years. It was a rainy & cold day, so I thought to myself: "I would love to get a warm coffee for myself & my aunt!" Lucky for us, they still had the Starbucks within the store. Here's the sad part: the people working at the Starbucks were awful. They had this sour look on their face, as though they hated life. They looked miserable, annoyed of our presence and were short & snappy. For absolutely no reason! I was super happy to be there, so I don't think I was portraying some sort of bad energy or vibes. I attempted to use my Starbucks gift card via Apple Wallet, and the girl rudely barked "we don't take digital gift cards!". So, I quietly paid with my debit card. We ordered three drinks, with one to go. They took FOREVER to make them. In fact, I picked out two books AND paid for them, upon waiting in a long line at the front, as my aunt stayed back waiting for our drinks. Guess what? They were not ready yet, as I returned from my purchase. Not only did the customer service suck, but we have been waiting on the drinks for 15+ minutes. No sense of urgency, they were talking amongst each other, moving slow, etc. When we received the drinks, they were gross: all the syrup was at the bottom, leaving our coffees bitter, tasteless and disgusting, which ironically matched their personalities LOL. I could have made better coffee with my Kcup machine and creamer at home with a smile on my face!!! :D Worst part, I spent $25 of my hard earned money where people's attitudes were as bitter as the coffee's they made us! And who doesn't take Apple Pay gift cards?!? Please update your tech, is it not 2025?! Most of all, thanks for single handedly contributing negatively to what should have been a cozy, nostalgic trip to a book store on a cold, rainy day! Overall, Barnes & Noble would get 5 stars, but the Starbucks within it gets ZERO, hence why I did end up leaving two stars within this review - only for the bookstore itself. Otherwise it would be nil. read more

The tell man working at the front checkout was VERY rude to me & my grandmother for absolutely no reason! I had to use the bathroom really bad but wasn't done looking at books so I walked up to the register & I asked if there was a restroom in the store & he ignored me so I asked again because I just assumed he didn't hear me then he responded with attitude "Umm I'm actually with a customer" & looked at me like duh! So I snapped back & said "Oh you can stop to be rude but can't answer my question." He said "Preferably not because that's rude" So I just walked away. Honestly if I was being rude by asking then he could've simply said "I'm with a customer right now & then I can help you" instead of ignoring me & being rude back would've been much more helpful. I didn't even want to look at any books anymore. read more

Since the Eastridge branch closed, the Barnes & Noble on Stevens Creek has been the location closest to me. I've been here a couple of times and I love big the store is. They have huge selections and everything is pretty well organized. I recently visited for their sale on hardcovers (all hardcovers were 50% off) and walked away with 2 new reads! The store was also incredibly crowded bc of the sale, even the entire parking lot was full! They have a Starbucks in the middle of the store and a couple of tables where you can hang out and read. Free wifi and parking as well. I recommend shopping at your locally owned bookstores before coming to B&N, but B&N is definitely a great place to shop for books. read more

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Great selection of books, movies, comics, collectibles, records, magazines, and more. The coffee shop in the center is always packed. The customer service is excellent. I love coming here and will be visiting again soon! read more

The bookstore is actually so good, the staff is good and helpful in the books sections. The cafe however, was an awful experience. It was two bratty white girls who definitely hate their job and were rude when I was polite because I don't like confrontation. I said thank you when my drink came out and the girl looked me up and down and walked away. read more

Love this place they recently changed some sections around and have given the store more space! I'm placing a 4 star because the ladies working the cafe deadass took a long time to make a hot tea. Additionally, DIDN'T SECURE THE LID!!! That could have been a large issue if I simply grabbed it after they presented it to me as finish. I do not mind waiting; even though it's just hot water and a premade tea bag. but at least think about the safety of others when presenting a lid not fully secured on a hot drink. Finally when picking a tea I asked if there was a specific ingredient in the tea due to allergies. The worker said "I don't know". Thankfully the other cafe worker grabbed the box and checked. This behavior makes me question their food safety and handling training. read more

There aren't very many bookstores around anymore. It's always nice to stop by here to browse. It's somehow easier to "see" the books at a bookstore (compared to browsing online). The main bookstore area is always neat, organized and clean. They have a large selection of books and magazines (except for foreign language books which is a crappy selection). They don't just sell books. They sell a lot of other stuff too. You will find also find things like chocolates, bookmarks, tote bags, toys, plushes, jigsaw puzzles, funko pop figures, anime/pop culture figurines, journals/notebooks (including Leuchtturm & Moleskine), pens, stationery, craft kits, and gift items. Since the pandemic, they have rearranged the shelving to have a more "open" format. And they have reduced the number of chairs around the store where people used to often camp out and read. Even the benches, tables & chairs in the children's room have been greatly reduced and everything is arranged further apart. The cafe is open and there is a fair number of tables available. It used to be very difficult to find a spot in the cafe seating area. But I was surprised to find a couple of open tables on a Sunday afternoon. There is a restroom in the SE corner of the store. Go through the children's room to get there. The restrooms are old and dated. Books along wall https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=NjjbclAKEc3aHwewnu_G6g&userid=isQotFiKU_S_TI4Qt4MtMQ Cafe seating https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=pK_AX9dJzywF9zaJrxdq0Q&userid=isQotFiKU_S_TI4Qt4MtMQ Leuchtturm journals https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=9EuuYdNNlJQHI41jOoXoEg&userid=isQotFiKU_S_TI4Qt4MtMQ Moleskine notebooks https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=FdIzItuSCJ-o9aaRB3LjTg&userid=isQotFiKU_S_TI4Qt4MtMQ Pusheen plushes https://www.yelp.com/user_local_photos?select=BOrPX4AwOm8jOSL2GO6xwg&userid=isQotFiKU_S_TI4Qt4MtMQ . read more

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This is the third time that I have encountered rude, unfriendly customer service at this Barnes and Noble. There was a set of backpacks that was kept near the front counter, but slightly behind it. Its location made its purpose very ambiguous - was it supposed to be checked out by customers or not? When we tried to check out the backpacks, the customer service assistant very rudely blocked us. When we said we were interested in checking out the backpacks, he said they were for sale but could only be looked at, not handled. What's the point of having items for sale if they cannot be handled? If you don't want customers to handle them, wall them off. If you want customers to handle them, keep them accessible. But don't try to have it both ways. Keeping them in an ambiguous location and then rudely telling customers not to handle them is not just rude but plain stupid and bad for business. And let's not get started on the chairs near the Starbucks which are all torn up. I have been to several Barnes and Noble stores in the Bay Area multiple times, and this is the only store where I have encountered rude, irrational behavior from store assistants multiple times. Is it something in the water from Stevens Creek? read more

Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Bookstores Near Me - San Jose, California

Love this bookstore. It's a great place to go if you are looking for a book or a magazine. They also have a music section with cd's and a Starbucks inside the bookstore as well. This is where I go since borders closed down years ago. Will continue to come to this bookstore? read more

Barnes & Noble Booksellers - Barnes & Noble sign over a book shelf on the wall - Bookstores Near Me - San Jose, California

First visit was on Black Friday 2023, so my experience is likely a little skewed. Good amount of parking. They have two entrances, so there's some parking in the "back", and a lot more parking available in the "front". My labeling of the "front" is where their main cashiers seem to be, and where the information center is mainly facing. On Black Friday, there were at least a dozen employees ready to go. Maybe it's because the NorCal population reads, but I know in SoCal, there's hardly that many employees on a Black Friday. While waiting for the doors to open, a line steadily grew behind us, which was super-nice to see that there's a good amount of readers out there. Once doors opened, everyone speed-walked to the signed editions section, which was nicely stacked on several tables. This is so much nicer than other BN shops where they have the signed books in a general area, but they also hide a few in their respective genre sections. Of course, it meant that everyone was crowding around three tables to get the books they want, and I think majority of the books were gone in the first 30 minutes, lol. Interestingly, this BN instilled a one-book-per-title-per-person, so people couldn't get, like, 5 sets of Sir Patrick Stewart's memoir; they only could get one. I like it because it meant that everyone had a chance to get at least one signed book, but I didn't see any signage about the limit of one book per person, which rankled some of the customers (I wasn't affected; I'm buying the books maaaainly for myself...). Full-priced, so my wallet is crying a bit. No convenient sales this year on any of the signed books. All staff were cool; didn't have any issues. The cashier that closed me out also suggested the new BN rewards (which I thought still required payment), and actually mentioned that it was free, which, of course, I took up that offer! Will likely be back if we're in the area. The weird double-entrance confused a first-timer like me, but I was able to get my books in the end! read more

My visit was quickly going downhill until my wife enlisted Morgan's help looking for a specific book which their website said was in stock. Morgan couldn't find it either so she ordered a copy and had it delivered to me at no cost. Yay Morgan!!! read more

Barnes & Noble is one of my favorite places to shop for gifts because there is so much variety and more unique items than what you'd find at a big-box retailer like Target... obviously books, but also toys, games, arts and crafts, puzzles, journals, music, and all kinds of accessories and hobby-related items. On top of that, the cafe sells some of the best cookies that typically aren't available at other Starbucks locations, and there's free wi-fi in the store to enjoy some reading or get work done in peaceful environment. The Stevens Creek location is great because parking is never a problem, and there are two store entrances in the front and back. It also never gets overcrowded, since it's not in a busy shopping center or mall like some other BN stores in the bay area. The store doesn't seem as modern looking as other locations, but inside, they offer just as great a range of products, with the lovely cafe right in the middle. I love how this location's Jr. section seems like it's own separate area, and it's easy to know where to go to find great books for my young nieces and nephews. I also like the hobby shelves because they have really quirky and unique stuff, though I do believe some are a bit gimmicky. That being said, the marketing and packaging is great if you're looking for gifts that are different. For instance the "Calm and Cozy Sleep Kit" (see my pic).  When I visited this past week, the place was clean and organized, the shelves were stacked with plenty of items to peruse, I found several goodies that I ended up buying (gifts for family), and the customer service was great. I got help finding specific books I had looked up online before coming in, and the worker knew exactly where to find the book and even walked me over to the section and explained where I could find books on mythology and related topics. And when I purchased my items, there was no wait/line at all, and the employee at the register was also very friendly and efficient. Over the years, visiting Barnes and Noble on Stevens Creek, I've always had a great experience, whether I ended up buying something or not. read more

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I have not been inside a brick and mortar bookstore in quite a while as the library has been my go to to explore authors and topics of interest. However with an hour or so to kill before my next errand I decided to stop in. I was immediately greeted by an employee who checked in on me and offered a recommendation based on my desire for a lighthearted easy read. This store has a great inventory and I was checked in on by another employee when I finally reached the back of the store. The only confusing part was not knowing where to stand when I was ready to check out. The employee at checkout also helped me look up my rewards card and followed through with renewing my educators card. She informed me I could get my 20% off and that to check my email for the next educator event as they had one back on August. This was a pleasant experience and I'll be back the next time I want to browse around. read more

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I'm starting to enjoy shopping in person. Especially for toys and puzzles. After a few years of shopping alone in front of the computer. It's nice to see other people with similar reading interests and little kids running around the kids book section. I have new appreciation for the large clean bookstore. Highly recommend you venture in and see what others are reading. Plus enjoy the pleasure of holding a new book in your hands. The possibility of a whole new world opening up in front of you.m read more

I was here to pick up a couple of books that I wanted to give someone as a gift. It is so easy to gift e-books but I wanted to get physical "real" books and could not wait to have them shipped. So here I was. I am old school like that! It is huge and well-stocked. The staff was SUPER courteous and they walked with me and helped me find the books I was looking for. On top of that, they gave me the online discount as a courtesy when I was asked about it. Tip - use the buy online and pick up in-store for better prices. They have a nice cafe as well. I used to spend a lot of time in B&N years ago and perhaps I should start doing that again. read more

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Well laid out, and very clean inside the store. Visible staff checking on bookshelves and helping customers. Very large selection although a few of the business books I wanted to peruse were not available. Clean cafe but I couldn't use my app with points... Coffee came out of a thermos which was not strong enough. Bathrooms are outdated and need to be refreshed. Large parking in the back. read more

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The staff is terrible. They are not just unhelpful, they go out of their way to make things difficult for you.

I've been here twice within the last week and it's been such an enjoyable time! It had been a while since I had come to this location, but everything has changed for the better! Finding books you might like or are actively searching for has never been easier. They categorize books into sub-genres so well that you can find any book within a good ten minutes or less if you ask for directions. I spent hours here recently looking through cookbooks, magazines, music autobiographies - it's such a great spot to meet with friends! I ended up ordering online for pick-up and I had a quick trip and fun conversation with my cashier. It has such a calm and down to earth environment and it feels like the spot to go to for peace in a book or in ambiance! The coffee counter was also really nice and they have sandwiches, snacks, desserts, and drinks. Their blender was down, but they had an otherwise strong selection. I ordered a scone and it was fresh and yummy. I highly recommend supporting your local bookstore and enjoying the excitement of finding that next great book. I had so much fun here, I even created a rewards account! read more

With online shopping and Amazon, I am writing this review because we really need physical bookstores and this is one of the few left in the Bay Area. I love taking my 11 year old sister who loves to read here to look at all the books and toys. I highly encourage reading so usually let her choose something from here when I take her. They have several sections of arts and crafts and toys and I love purchasing Christmas gifts here. The only feedback that I'd like to give management is that the ladies bathroom always seems to be very dirty here. I wish they cleaned it better. Parking is plentiful and you can park in the back if there's none available in the front. read more