July 13, 2007

Retail Roundup

Local residents looking for deals on books, music and DVDs can
find all they need nearby at Eastridge Barnes & Noble

When Barnes & Noble opened its new superstore at the newly renovated Eastridge Shopping Center last spring, it was a welcome and long overdue addition to a community that had been hungry for a major bookstore for years. 

Previously, residents had to drive miles to bookstores in South San Jose, Milpitas and Santa Clara to get the books they needed.

The new bookstore, which boasts 28,000 square feet of books, CDs, DVDs and more, is located along the streetscape wing of the newly renovated Eastridge Shopping Center between Sports Chalet and Bed Bath and Beyond. The bookstore, which has access to more than 1 million titles in print, also boasts a Music and DVD department along with a Barnes & Noble Café. The Café brews Starbucks Coffee in addition to selling assorted baked goods like scones, cookies and Cheesecake Factory Cheesecake.

The store also has the second largest children’s book selection in the Santa Clara Valley, featuring assorted titles for a variety of ages and including a massive section of test prep workbooks for children, parents and teachers. The store is open 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday for customer shopping convenience.

Among the many programs and services Barnes & Noble provides is its membership program, which allows customers to receive 40 percent off bestsellers, 20 percent off adult hardcover books, and 10 percent off everything else in the building and also online at www.barnesandnoble.com for a small annual fee.

“If you regularly spend $10 a week on coffee, music and books, the Barnes & Noble Member Card more than pays for itself, “ said Karl Bachert, Store Manager at the Eastridge Barnes & Noble. “It’s all about great selection and great prices, and in an age where everyone is watching what they spend, it’s a great investment.”

The Eastridge Barnes & Noble hosts regular literary events for its customers, including story time twice a week, and a popular monthly book club that discusses assorted Manga titles.

“The Manga/Graphic Novels section is one of the top sales categories at our store,” said Michael Koller, Community Relations Manager for the Eastridge Barnes & Noble store. “It made sense to create the Barnes & Noble Manga Society to offer an opportunity for customers to explore those interests.”

The store also features appearances by local and national authors. Some of the famous authors who have stepped into the store include famed Oscar Nominated Director David Lynch, and coming August 21, psychic Sylvia Browne.

Since its arrival last year, Barnes & Noble Eastridge has been very active in the local education community. Among its offerings is its Educator Discount Program, in which Pre K-Grade 12 Educators receive 20 percent off purchases for use in the classroom. The store also offers fundraising opportunities through its in-store voucher book fair program, where school supporters shop the store and a percentage of the sales are returned to the school.

“We offer probably one of the easiest fundraising opportunities around,” said Koller. “We handle all the logistics and accounting and the work. The school gets to showcase its programs, such as music, drama, and young authors fair. They also raise money for their school, which is important in a climate of tight education budgets.”

The store also features an annual summer reading program, in which children in 1-6 grade read eight age or reading level appropriate books, fill out a reading journal, and receive a coupon to obtain a free book. This year’s program features the Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne and runs through September 2.

Throughout the remainder of the summer, the Barnes & Noble Café will be holding a Frappuccino festival. Customers are invited to try a Venti size in many of their outstanding flavors including strawberry, mocha, double chip and the brand new raspberry mocha Frappuccino.

Barnes & Noble Eastridge is one of many bookstores worldwide holding a huge release party for the arrival of the seventh and final Harry Potter book, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on Friday, July 20. Customers can still reserve their copy at the store at 40 percent off list price. Barnes & Noble members get an extra 10 percent off.  

“We at Barnes & Noble Eastridge are very much excited about the arrival of the new book,” said Koller. “We will be holding a Costume Party complete with readings, games, trivia, assorted prizes and more as we count down to midnight, when the book officially goes on sale.” 

Party festivities officially begin at 7 p.m.

Customers looking to reserve their copy of the book, or having questions about the party or have ideas for book clubs, writing groups and other programs are encouraged to contact the store at (408) 270-9470.