After over 12 years, Palm Coast’s bookstore drought may come to an end. One of the three stores that will occupy a planned 50,000 square foot extension of the Target shopping center will be a Barnes & Noble, according to a site plan submitted to the city.
The Barnes & Noble would occupy a 15,000 square foot store. It would be next to a 25,000-square-foot home goods store, and an 8,539-square-foot Five Below, a specialty discount gift shop where most of the products are below $5.
FlaglerLive reported on the expansion of the shopping center on March 23. The Observer first reported on the Barnes & Noble plan that evening, along with a Firestone vehicle repair shop in the Shoppes at Palm Coast strip across the street.
Palm Coast–and Flagler County–last had a general interest bookstore in 2014, when Books-A-Million had a store in the same shopping center. It had been there only for six years. The company still has a store at Volusia Mall and two in Jacksonville. Barnes & Noble has locations in Daytona Beach, St. Augustine and Jacksonville, and about 600 stores across the country.
The chain has been benefiting from what The Atlantic last month described as a rebirth as readers’ backlash against “sinister big-box stores on the march against independent businesses” recedes. The chain that closed some 150 stores after the 2008 financial crisis as Amazon was compounding its losses was taken over by Elliott Investment Management, a hedge fund, in 2019, opened 60 stores last year and will open 60 more next year–presumably the Palm Coast location among them.
Several companies have a group of stores in particular states–Powell’s Books has four stores in Oregon, for example, Sherman’s has nine in Maine–but nationwide chains are down to just three: Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and Half Price Books. Independent bookstores still outnumber the chains.
The local development is led by Weingarten Investments. The Palm Coast Planning Board approved the plans at its March 18 meeting.
Michelle Hunnefeld says
When is the ground breaking and do you have any structural/architect designs to share with your readers? Is there a projected date for the opening?
Thanks
FlaglerLive says
The plans are available starting here, and have also now been embedded at the foot of the article. There is no groundbreaking date.
Larry says
Barnes & Noble and HomeGoods are both great additions to the area. Looking forward to both of them opening.
Jay Tomm says
2 perfectly good libraries within 7 miles of each other. Don’t need another book store! Please stop making Palm Coast a I95 rest stop.
Kenny says
Old man yells at clouds while shaking fists.
Sherry says
@jay tomm. . . OK, are you in favor of “banning books” in libraries? If so, where should people go to find the books they need to become “fully” educated?
What is your perfect vision for Palm Coast? Should it just die on the vine from ignorance/hate/fear/greed?
Wayne says
This is fantastic! I’ve been hoping for a B&N here. Great place to peruse just about any book before you buy. Libraries are great. I love them. But I’m a book buyer/collector. I’m slowly pulling away from Amazon and online shopping. I want to see it before I buy. Plus, I’m over “digital.” You don’t own it. Digital music, books, audiobooks (from Audible), kindle books, movies purchased through Amazon or other digital companies, are only “leases” and available as long as they host the content. There have been instances of digital movies and books being censored or altered. I abhor censorship. You have a choice. You’re not forced to buy, read, watch, or listen. Censorship is for weak-minded people who have insecurities. Anyway, rant over. Physical media is the way to go. CDs/Vinyl, DVD/Blu-Ray, paperback/hardcover books & magazines. Make good use of your money and buy to own, stop “renting” content.
JC says
I don’t mind digital because I can later break the DRM protection off these digital books and I can keep the DRM free epub files of these books forever. I can store those same files in various hard drives and my cloud storage. You can buy both books and do digital.
Wayne says
That’s all well and good, and I used to do that too with everything digital, but I’m over looking at screens. I do it all day for work. I’m over it. Now when my shift ends, I’m done. No phone. No PC. I just want to relax on the couch with a physical book in my hands and get lost in the story. My wife and I will actually take turns reading out loud to each other, so we can enjoy the book at the same time.
Canary says
oooh this is going to cost me some money! Very excited for this!
Extinct says
Book stores are like dinosaurs
The internet or library work fine
Just ask Books A Million how much community support is given here , and how much is needed to cover high overhead in Palm Coast
Roxyanne Young says
Hurray! I’m so glad we’re getting a new Barnes & Noble. The library is great, but they don’t always have the books I’m looking for. At BN, I can order pretty much anything in print. I’m excited.
Dennis C Rathsam says
Barnes & Noble, wont be able to keep doors open to pay the taxes & the electric bill this summer! A giant waste of money.
Capt Bill Hanagan says
Dennis from reading your other work I’m shocked that you’re not excited about a new bookstore!