Barnes & Noble Shelves Plans For Downtown Spokane Store

Barnes & Noble, the bookstore behemoth that some merchants hoped would help revive downtown, has instead shelved its plans for a Spokane store.

A Barnes & Noble subcontractor announced in March that the New York-based chain had tagged downtown for the location of its largest bookstore west of the Mississippi River. But store officials confirmed this week that they bailed out on plans for a Spokane store.

“We were looking at sites but so far no leases have been signed and we haven’t made any plans whatsoever,” said Donna Passannante, director of special events and promotions.

Passannante, who oversees new store openings, would not elaborate on why the notoriously tight-lipped retailer stopped considering Spokane for a store earlier this month.

“We never signed a deal in Spokane. Beyond that, there’s no information,” she said.

The announcement elicited mixed reactions from downtown booksellers.

Laurel Nett, manager of the downtown B Dalton Bookseller, said the news was a disappointment. B Dalton is a subsidiary of Barnes & Noble.

“It would have been great. The stores are wonderful for book lovers and shoppers,” Nett said. “I think it’s unfortunate for downtown and the rest of Spokane.”

She added that the store could have served as a downtown anchor to bolster the draw of the soon-to-be-redesigned River Park Square.

But smiles accompanied the announcement at Auntie’s Bookstore, Spokane’s largest independent book retailer. Barnes & Noble, which buys books at steep discounts, often undercuts independent booksellers’ prices.

“We’re glad they’re not going to be our neighbor,” said Sharon Crandall, Auntie’s co-manager.

, DataTimes