America’s largest book retailer, Barnes & Noble, has been soliciting bids for remodel work for a downtown Los Gatos location it has in the works—three blocks away from where independent shop Beyond Text Bookstore opened less than a year ago.
According to a listing on the PlanHub contractor platform, the corporation wants to spruce-up 6,806 square feet of commercial space at 122 N. Santa Cruz Ave., the former home of Williams-Sonoma.
The deadline for bids? April 9.
Tanya Sedneva, the founder of Beyond Text, located at 318 N. Santa Cruz Ave., has been looking forward to marking a challenging but thrilling year of running her business in a few weeks.
She learned about the corporate chain’s plans from the Los Gatos Chamber of Commerce several weeks ago.
“I’m upset,” she said. “I need some time to think what I can do.”
Los Gatos resident Karen Vincent, an avid reader of travel content, was intrigued by the news.
“I welcome Barnes & Noble,” she said. “I feel that Los Gatos will, too.”
It’s been more than a decade since Borders Bookstore closed its doors in Old Town, due to its parent company filing for bankruptcy protection.
Barnes & Noble, which has been in business since 1886, acquired some of that chain’s assets in September 2011.
Over the coming year, Barnes & Nobles has announced plans to open 60 new bookstores, beating their last year’s record of 57.
Despite rapid growth, the company is also shuttering locations—for example its second San Jose store at 5353 Almaden Expressway recently held its final sale.
Los Gatos has seen other bookstores come and go over the years, such as Crowns Books and Village House of Books.
For the new location across from Gardenia, drawings from New York-based Howell Belanger Castelli Architects, depict what look like several interior bookshelf islands surrounded by additional shelf space jutting from the walls.
An employee at the Barnes & Noble Stevens Creek Boulevard store confirmed the company is opening a new location less than 10 miles away in Los Gatos.
The Los Gatan asked Barnes & Noble’s media office if the company was deliberately trying to snuff out competition opening so close to Beyond Text, but did not receive a response by deadline.
Beyond Text is planning to hold a “1st Birthday Bash!” on May 3, featuring music, treats, fun photo ops and “birthday magic.”
On Monday, Sedneva updated her front window display to feature a spring blossom theme.
