Bookstar / Barnes & Noble

Add some comfortable chairs so people can sit down and actually browse the books you sell. It’s not very inviting in that respect though the space itself is beautiful. I grew up in the area and saw a lot of movies here when it was the Loma Theater. It’s very nostalgic to me and I would spend more time here (probably buying books!). Yet, I buy online instead for the very reason that there is no place to sit.

I drove past this old cinema looking place a million times and I always thought it was some kind of local bookstore and I’ve been wanting to check it out because of that. Well, one day, I was in the area and I needed to go to a Barnes & Nobles so I just google mapped it and it lead me here. Needless to say, I was confused. When I went in, I realized that this was just another Barnes & Nobles. I have no idea why they have Bookstar on the front of their store. I think it’s false advertisement.
Anyways, it’s a good store. Not too big or small. Just another Barnes & Nobles.

Great view and ‘around it. Beautiful area, interesting to visit. Romance in memory of James Dean …

This was a fun bookstore! The décor was what really sets this apart from other bookstores. Without the movie theater décor, it would just be a regular Barnes & Noble.

I brought my little guy here to do some summer reading shopping. I hadn’t been to this location in a few years. I remember shopping here more often when it was still a Bookstar. I do like that there’s no Starbucks in here because of the historical designation. It’s nice that they’ve been unable to put their stamp on it. I love this building, as I’m sure many other people do. It’s beautiful inside and so out of character for a Barnes and Noble.
If you enter from the parking lot entrance, there is a small lobby with a bulletin board and table with their current store events that you can sign up for. This is nice, my local store doesn’t do this. Like all Barnes and Nobles I’ve been to, this one is also crammed with all sorts of goodies. It’s not to the point that you can’t maneuver your way though. It’s set up a bit different, but still easy enough to find everything. The main difference in this store is that you won’t see title locations on the walls like at other stores. That’s because they aren’t able to change the character of the building, and why would you? It’s perfect as it is. Just wonder around or grab an employee and ask for help. This old theater deserves an exploration anyway.
My son, of course, managed to find the Lego section all on his own. That kid could spot a Lego from a mile away, I swear. After we checked everything out and he begged me to take off the Chewbacca backpack, he picked out a couple books to go with his comic books he found in the magazine section. We moseyed over to register to pay and boom! A huge table of minion toys!!! He had to grab my hand and drag me away. He said «you’re the mama and I’m the kid, stop that!»
We had nice service as we checked out. My son gave the cashier his kids club card and I handed over the cash. I liked that the cashier asked him if he wanted a bag for his purchase and not me. When I take my son out I try and get him to practice his social skills so he was greeting the cashier and using good manners. A lot of times adults will just ignore children and talk to the parents though. I always appreciate people with good service like this, it makes me want to return.

It looked super cool from the outside and you think it’s a hip new book store or used book store but it’s a Barnes and Noble.
It’s not bad though. Nice and clean inside, as are most BN locations.
They have a very small vinyl collection in the corner that offers perhaps 1 of each of the few artists they have.
Magazine collection was nice. But if there are more than 2 people, it gets cramped very quickly.
Wide selection of reading material. Felt like it was an endless bookstore once you start moving toward the back.
Staff was super friendly. Helpful group with great recommendations. We walked out satisfied with our selections. Almost done with my book after 1 night.

So there I was… finally walking into the Movie Theater Bookstar.
Some of the best times of my life was hanging out with my daughter at other Bookstars. But I had never been to the most famous one in San Diego. I had driven by it a zillion times but never stopped. As I walked in I felt excitement and anticipation. What would I find in side???
Guess what I found… A BOOK!
This place has a great selection of books. I had recently been to the Barnes and Noble in mission valley and couldn’t find a good interesting motivational biography. At this Bookstar I settled on a biography on Steve Jobs written by the mother of his daughter. It is going to be good! The huge selection of books is what makes those book store great.
Here is what they need to improve on. More chairs! That is a biggy. The only reason it is not a five star book store is that I couldn’t see chairs throughout the store to relax and do some reading.
I buy a lot of books and my daughter goes through a fiction book every 3 days. Every time we go to a book store and sit down and start reading we buy at least one book each. Maybe there are more reading areas there that I didn’t see. I’ll check back and see if there are more chairs there that I missed and if so I will promptly edit the review and bring it up to five stars.
All and all a great book store! I Recommend it.

I’m usually not one for b&n but I really loved the BookStar location because of its history. It’s super cool inside and has a good selection. Found some awesome graphic design books as well as some scifi for the boyfriend. Stop in if you’re a book lover! The only downside is the price– would much rather have spent my $ 90 on ten books instead of a mere three.

This is a really neat location.
First off, for all of you history buffs — this is formerly the Point Loma Theatre. Many people will comment on how they came to watch movies in this building — even some as recent as ET. The building has received historical status, and so the exterior cannot be altered. So while you won’t see any call outs to Barnes and Noble on the outside — it is definitely part of the Barnes and Noble chain — there might be a cling on the glass door, but that is about it. The location was turned into a bookstore about 25 years ago with the Bookstar name and when Barnes and Noble purchased it they couldn’t alter any exterior signage due to the historical status.
When you go inside, you’ll notice that the layout is very unusual for a Barnes and Noble. First off, they don’t have a café in this location. That’s the only down side. Everything else you’ll find with no trouble. As you descend into the book store, there is a bargain section where you can find great deal on really cool books.
Have you ever thought — i want to buy this book, but I don’t want to get home and realize it’s a waste? There are plenty of chairs for you to sit back and enjoy yourself as you browse through your favorite titles to make a decision. From what I have seen, they actually encourage you to stay longer.
If you decide to purchase a book, make sure that you sign up for a membership. It’s $ 25 a year, but you get 10% off everything in any Barnes and Noble and free shipping on-​line. On top of this, if you give them your email addy, they’ll sign you up for coupons that you get each month on top of your membership savings. Not a bad deal!!!

Found everything I wanted.
I love books. It might be an addiction for me. I browsed this store a while, trying to figure out exactly what I wanted. Every time a store attendant would walk by me, they always asked if I needed help.
From the outside, you would not expect it to be as big as it is, but you may very well find all that you’re looking for and more.
As I was checking out, the cashier was very friendly and of course asked if I wanted to buy a membership, he was assertive but not pushy.
I would definitely recommend this establishment to anyone going shopping for books.

I m Sooo sad !!! I order a book trough them, I had no problem the book arrived during the time frame they gave me. Went to the store super happy they handed me my book I paid and went on my marry way, I get home sit down and I’m ready to start reading my book when I realize what they had ordered was a STUDY GUIDE not the original book … Staff was friendly but I’m soo disappointed in their lack of attention to detail, Now I have to wait even longer and try to find the book else where. I just wasted my money and time. If only they would pay attention to what the customer wants

It’s a small B&N but don’t let the size scare you. They have a lot packed in there. A good size kids section and the tables and books are well laid out. It’s also a nice, quiet store. The staff was very friendly and helpful! It’s also the most beautiful book store I’ve seen. I love that they have kept the ceiling art from the old theatre.

One of the few remaining bookstores in San Diego, Bookstar is owned by Barnes & Noble, but built into an old renovated movie theatre, which gives it a cool vibe. I was greeted by the cashier and one other sales associate when I walked into the store, which I wasn’t expecting, based on the other reviews. I also overhead sales associates helping other customers throughout my visit.
I’m leaving on a cruise soon, so I’ll be honest, I was just browsing books that I could then go order on Amazon for about 40% cheaper. But I do understand that in the era of the kindle and the iPad, physical paper books are going the way of the landline, so I ended up buying a novel in the store. All in all, it was everything I expect in a bookstore.

This establishment used to be a movie theater which gives this bookstore a very cinematic old hollywood atmostphere. My friend and I were instantly head over heels in love with what they did to revamp it into a Barnes & Noble.
I’ve been a big fangirl of Mortal instruments so upon walking in the SA asked if I was looking for anything in particular. He directed me to a table to the far left. After scavenging up and down the place I still couldn’t find it, and to my luck the same SA walked by and asked if I ever came across the table. He was so kind to walk me over.
This bookstore is a must visit when you go down to SD. It’s got a hidden treasure feel to it. Looks old and rundown on the outside but the inside gives a real life experience to discovering a magical place beyond a hidden closet.

This B&N is in a movie theater that was built in 1944, so it’s worth seeing just for that– the painted murals original to the building, the meandering shape of the store. It’s one of those places where you could spend an hour or so just browsing and feel like you’re a million miles away from traffic and other people.
Staff was super friendly and very helpful.
There’s a lot in the back, but since we usually stop here on the way home from Liberty Station (i.e. en route to 8 on Rosecrans) we just park on Rosecrans.

Love that they saved the neon, and they’ve got a great selection of cards and magazines. Other than that, meh, it’s B&N. Too bad it’s not an independent. I’d rather buy online

Its a cool place to go and chill, read some books when you got nothing to do.
This Barnes & Noble is set up in a old movie theater.
This one seems smaller then others but its not stopping me from going in and relax and skim through a book or two.
parking is in the back of the building, you can park out on the street but I just find it easer to park in the back.

I live literally feet from this particular store. I love that it preserves the history of the theater that was once there. The ceiling is painted beautifully! Definitely one of the coolest Barnes & Noble stores I’ve ever been in simply due to the uniqueness of the building. I am a total book worm, so I love that I love so close to this store. And when I say book worm, I mean actual, physical books. I’m not into ereaders.

Nice atmosphere in an old renovated movie theater… that’s what draws you to the store, but it’s just a Barnes & Noble. Tons of books, cool ceiling décor, but no comfy places to sit and read or rest while my family looked around. No special area for the kids to sit or for any storytime… just a regular book store in a cool building.
(I always find these book stores overpriced and prefer discount books, Amazon, used books or the library.)

This is one of my favorite bookstores ever based solely on the aesthetics and the fact that it’s an old restored theater.
The paintings on the walls are beautiful, okay I mayyyy have a thing for filigree, but come on even the ceiling is majestic.
I just wish this was a locally owned bookstore, not owned by Barnes and Noble.