I have toyed with the idea of opening a bookstore here. Thing is its an uncertain future. The kindle outsold actual books this holiday season. There are those like me who prefer the actual book, but with youngsters perhaps getting use to electronic readers, it's too risky a business.

yeah, hoboken B/N was a total day camp. the one in edgewater is much nicer (and better selection)

I think you have a point - it seems very likely that Downtown JC could now get a chain bookstore -- I really wish "The Strand" would open an annex here -- but if not at least it does make room for smaller bookstores.

It was also the main thing that Hoboken had that Downtown JC didn't - but as far as selection it was a really lousy B&N store -- and there were way too many Hoboken Moms who used it like a day camp.

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Yes, but this is great for Jersey City in that a competing bookstore no longer has to contend with B&N, or B&N itself might find JC more attractive without a Hoboken location.

That said, as far as I'm concerned, this is just B&N's loss, since this was the only Barnes and Noble I shopped at.

Now we will all wonder what will replace the book store. It's unfortunate that rents going up drive out those that find it unaffordable. What is the turn over of customers in that store and how many only treated it as a libraryand not a place to make purchases. It's a terrific location and huge it may be broken up to house many businesses.

Hoboken Barnes & Noble announces March 31 closing

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

HOBOKEN - The city, and Hudson County, is losing its Barnes & Noble bookstore.

B&N officials announced yesterday the store at 59 Washington St. will be closing March 31.

"We are as disappointed as our customers to be closing our Hoboken store, but the fact is the rent became too high, which made it impossible to continue leasing the space from a business point of view," David Deason, B&N's vice president of real estate, said in a statement.

The Hoboken store manager declined to comment. The bookseller chain has suffered nationwide layoffs.

Symposia Community Bookstore, at 510 Washington St., a used bookstore, will be the sole option for book buyers in the city in the wake of B&N's departure.

MARK MAURER