Barnes & Noble will close its Bay Plaza store in the Bronx by the end of the year, NEWS-12 reported. The decision comes two years after the company reversed a decision to shutter the location, thanks to efforts by borough president Ruben Diaz Jr. to negotiate a compromise between the bookseller and Prestige Properties & Development.
A B&N spokesperson said that "though we were paying substantial rents at this location, the property owner has decided to lease the space to another retailer who was willing to pay more." B&N said it had held discussions with the property owner in hopes of coming to an agreement.
Councilman James Vacca said the store was offered a smaller location at Bay Plaza outside the mall: "Bay Plaza has made it clear to them they would like them to stay and so would we. The community would like Barnes & Noble to stay here and that is very important."
In response to the news, Noëlle Santos, whose Lit. Bar initiative aims to open a bookstore in the Bronx next year, wrote to supporters, "With the Bronx soon to be the only borough in the city without a bookshop, cries of disappointment have erupted via social media and publications such as Welcome to the Bronx have called their followings to support the Lit. Bar with a greater sense of urgency. We need your help to step up for our literary community."
Santos noted that her crowdfunding campaign should start in January but that there are other ways the Lit.Bar can be helped, particularly in her search for "a founding bookstore manager to assist in almost every aspect of store operations. There's so much value in having this person be a part of the start-up journey. My ideal other-half has significant bookstore experience, a handle on social media, a love of the Bronx, and an entrepreneurial spirit (and stomach). A plus if you're more excited about Harry Potter and YA than I am."