After Borders Books and Music closed on York Road and Ukazoo Books moved out of Dulaney Plaza, Barnes & Noble was the only large book store left in the heart of Towson. Soon, it will be gone, too.
The two-level Barnes & Noble Booksellers store in the old Hutzler’s building will be closing in June, according to a store employee.
Barnes & Noble does not have current plans to move to another location in Towson, the employee said. “We suggest that customers visit our stores in White Marsh, Pikesville and the Inner Harbor.”
Barnes & Noble has been one of the largest retailers to occupy the Towson Circle development at 1 E. Joppa Road, owned by Retail Properties of America.
The store has entrances off York Road and from a subterranean parking lot shared with Trader Joe’s, and its two levels are connected by an escalator. The parking lot is being redeveloped with an apartment building, the exterior of the Hutzler’s building is getting renovated, and Trader Joe’s is moving to The Shops at Kenilworth Plaza in March.
Ukazoo Books, which closed its 10,000-square-foot Dulaney Plaza store in December, is moving ahead with plans to open a new store at 8641 Loch Raven Boulevard, just south of Joppa Road. Book shelves and other store fixtures are visible through the glass storefront as the owners prepare to open their new location.
Isn’t the store closing a direct result of the extensive road construction at that location, and how B&N’s business would be significantly impacted by it?