Barnes & Noble Opens Its Smallest Store in the Country Today in Fairfax, Va.
By Christina sturdivant-Sani April 24, 2019 9:00 am
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Earlier than expected, Barnes & Noble is opening a new smaller format store today at the Mosaic District in Fairfax County, Va., according to a press release from the national bookseller. The store was slated to open in June, Commercial Observer previously reported.
The 8,300-square-foot store, located at 2921 District Ave, is the 12th outpost of this type to open in the U.S., a Barnes & Noble spokesman told Commercial Observer. It’s the bookstore’s smallest location in the country, Washington Business Journal reported.
“Barnes & Noble Mosaic will offer a clean, contemporary design that is easy to shop and friendly to our customers,” Frank Morabito, a Barnes & Noble vice president, said in a prepared statement. Morabito added that the store will feature “a full assortment of books at its core, with a curated selection of educational toys and games, family games and puzzles and gift items for avid readers.”
The store will have “modern design aesthetics” such as low bookshelves that offer customers with a panoramic view of the store and a large “book theater” that “invites customers to discover books in a new 360-degree experience,” according to the release. Staffers will have tablets to help customers find books and purchase items without standing in the traditional check out line.
The cafe offer Starbucks beverages, baked goods and snacks, plus indoor and outdoor seating.
The Mosaic District, which spans 2 million square feet of retail, restaurant, office, residential and hotel space, is owned by Washington, D.C.-based developer Edens, which announced last fall the addition of five other retailers to open at the Mosaic District alongside Barnes & Noble including Erin Condren, Sundance, MacMillan Whisky Room, RyuKai and Parc Bistro.
Edens did not respond to CO’s request for details regarding Barnes & Noble’s lease. It’s unclear if brokers were involved in the lease negotiations. Barnes & Noble has about a dozen other locations in the D.C. region.
