With store opening, no more, ‘If you only had one on the west side of town,’ complaints

Carrie Rengers
·2 min read

If you’re a west-sider who has been patiently, or otherwise, waiting on Barnes & Noble Booksellers to finally come to your side of town, you may consider a quick thanks to store manager Heidi Gordon when you get there.

In the last couple of decades, Gordon has worked at every Barnes & Noble in Wichita — there have been three on the east side through the years — and she’s the one who suggested to Barnes & Noble that it was about time to give the west side a try.

“I was thrilled,” she said, though Gordon added that she’s “not going to take that much credit, but I’m excited.”

“For years I’ve been hearing, like, ‘If you only had one on the west side of town.’ ”

If you’re at the new Barnes & Noble Booksellers at NewMarket Square and see this woman, manager Heidi Gordon, you might thank her for helping bring the store to west Wichita. It’s something shoppers have been asking for, for a long time.
If you’re at the new Barnes & Noble Booksellers at NewMarket Square and see this woman, manager Heidi Gordon, you might thank her for helping bring the store to west Wichita. It’s something shoppers have been asking for, for a long time.

The new store opens at 9 a.m. on Wednesday at NewMarket Square where Bed Bath & Beyond once was.

Of course, the NewMarket Square team gets some thanks for the deal, too.

“We are thrilled to add Barnes & Noble to our retail mix here,” said communications manager Sara Fleming.

She said it means another draw for shoppers.

“This is a new opportunity for us to further elevate the shopping experience . . . for our customers.”

Though the store still feels like a Barnes & Noble, Gordon said, it has a new look and layout.

“It is beautiful,” she said. “The finishes aren’t as dark and . . . library heavy.”

Gordon said the store features rooms with various genres of books.

“It is kind of a labyrinth, and I think people are going to get lost in here in the best way.”

At the new Barnes & Noble Booksellers at NewMarket Square, each genre of books will have its own room, and there will be multiple rooms for gifts and other items that the store sells.
At the new Barnes & Noble Booksellers at NewMarket Square, each genre of books will have its own room, and there will be multiple rooms for gifts and other items that the store sells.

She said the rooms move in a logical way to take people on a journey.

“People are going to love just getting lost in the shelves.”

Along with books and a children’s area, there’s an expanded vinyl section with records.

“We’ve got loads of them.”

There’s also what Gordon called a gorgeous cafe with tons of seating at the front of the store.

“You’re going to smell coffee and cookies as soon as you walk in, which I think is perfect.”

With all this and cookies, too, is Gordon sure she doesn’t want to take the credit?

She reconsidered.

“I’ll take it.”

Barnes & Noble Booksellers opens Wednesday at NewMarket Square. The cafe will serve Starbucks coffee and a menu similar to the one in the Barnes & Noble at Bradley Fair. It’s designed to be a comfortable place to sit and read and recharge devices.
Barnes & Noble Booksellers opens Wednesday at NewMarket Square. The cafe will serve Starbucks coffee and a menu similar to the one in the Barnes & Noble at Bradley Fair. It’s designed to be a comfortable place to sit and read and recharge devices.

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