Reviews for Barnes & Noble in Clifton, NJ

When we first entered the store, I remembered everything that online shopping can't give you: The smell of books, mingling with... the smell of coffee, sprinkled with cute little trinkets and memorabilia linked to your favorite books: it wasmagical. Until... One of the store worker came over to the toddler section where my husband and I were reading books to ourtoddler, and stood within two feet of where we were, staring at us, making me choose between having a snappy exchange with anunhappy retail worker in front of my child, or walking away but interrupting our family's first experience of a book storetogether (my toddler was born during the pandemic, and he'd never seen so many books together- he was squealing withdelight). Funny thing is... Understanding that there are customers who might leaf through the books, open the flaps and walkaway without buying an item, earlier, when I'd sensed workers passing by, I'd made it very clear that we were buying the bookswe were stacking on the carpet and reading to our child, with phrases like, "Yes, baby, we're taking these home," everytimesomeone passed by. And, "Leave those on the shelf, you already picked out 6, my darling, we can read the ones we'll buy," Andalas, in spite of all my care and foresight, we still got the harassing retail worker to treat us as if we were doing somethingwrong. Long story short, Barnes and Noble staff: I understand you. But you need to do better. By now, you should have developedthe ability to do a tactful check in or pass-by, the ability to know the customer you have in front of you, and the ability tocare for your store without making paying customers feel snobbed. I won't be returning to this branch. I'd rather a smaller,homelier store with people who have not forgotten their tact and their manners. Read more

Used to be a place I could find my way around. No longer, sadly. It is now a headquarters for the chain. Entire upstairs... dedicated to computers and such. The people working there are still absolutely great and helpful. It's the only reason I will goback. Read more

I used to love coming here and the 2 floors made the place feel so big. But now everything is condensed to the 1st floor and all... the shelves look so packed which isn't how it was before. Looks somehow messier. Read more

Maybe my love for books is swaying me, but this Barnes & Nobles especially is magnificent. It's organized, clean, the workers... are all polite and efficient in not just knowledge of where the books are or what section, but a lot of then are bookies like usand know which books are hot, which are on the top lists, and can give you recommendations. Read more

My favorite Barnes & Noble and Starbucks all in one, great location surrounded by other stores within a plaza. It's one of the... biggest bookstores and most visually appealing of the bookstores I've been to. Read more

Barnes & Noble Starbucks here was absolutely phenomenal. They had exclusive items here that I?d never seen in other locations.... Service was great, beverage and food was great as well. I?d love to stop by this location again for sure. Read more

I went to Barnes nobles today. It is all renovated however, the Starbucks workers are still rude. We needed a straw and I just... saw on the side and picked it up. The worker said to me don?t reach there to get straw. I should ask him? ? by asking like can Iget please a straw? ? like teaching a young kid. That was rude instead he would say to me ?sorry all the straws are here?. Nevertry to teach a customer a politeness. I didn?t want to bother them. I just saw a straw and picked. I don?t see anything wrongwith that. So I they should be more careful who they are hiring and giving training at Starbucks. Other than that bookstore usedto have more selection for bookmarkers. Read more

Good selection as always, very helpful staff. I miss all the chairs where you could sit and lounge about. But I still was able... to pick up the books I was interested in. Glad this location is in my area Read more