Columbia Bookstore

Just had the most bizarre experience here. Walked in from a work conference next door to buy a beverage. As we walked towards the drink cooler, the man at the counter told us we weren't allowed to go back there and that it was blocked off. It wasn't blocked off at all and appeared to be fully shoppable to customers. We were very confused, and the man kept yelling at us to step away, so we left without buying anything.

This is the cutest little bookstore! Huge variety of options both Gently used and new. I was there to choose a baby book for a baby shower and had quite a few options to choose from. The lady at the counter was very helpful and friendly. Highly recommended.

Victoria R is super rude and doesn't know how to talk to people on the phone. Hopefully I'll have better luck tomorrow. Victoria needs a little more phone training though. Jade is super sweet and super helpful! Everything a manager should be! She answered my question perfectly and made it super quick and easy!

Student staff is helpful, senior staff is indifferent to student needs to the point where it borders on, and often spills over into complete rudeness. It's like their only goal when they clock in is to make it to the end of the day with as little customer interaction as possible. I attended a reading there recently of student writers, the manager was testy, short, and wanted to get the reading started early (before the publisher of the anthology that was being read arrived and before some of the actual performers too.) I am grateful that the bookstore stayed open for this event, they close at 3 on Fridays and this event went to 630, but that is the time they normally close during the week so, really, what is one day oit of an entire semester. The manager set up six chairs for the event. Six. The number of people involved in the reading was nine. And the guests to this event were left to stand among the racks of merchandise while a stack of chairs remained untouched behind the checkout counter. (Which was in use throughout the reading. Though I understand this is a business, it's pretty obvious to a group of readers that a place really doesn't want them around when the beepbeepbeepcaching-rip of a till rattles off right next to the part of the store alloted for the event).

New management sucks! Used to be a fairly accomodating store with a decent selection of books(for a college bookstore that is), now the new manager is super rude! Also for a Barnes and Noble, there aren't any non-textbook options. DePaul store exponentially superior.