Books-A-Million breaks the bar-hopping routine

By Matt Weafer

As a college student, my weekly schedule is bulging from the seams with everything from reading Plato’s Republic to working a part-time job.

So when the weekend hits, I’m not necessarily in the mood for deejays, strobe lights, or a bar full of people. I need a quiet place to relax, finish homework, and hang out with friends.

At Books-A-Million, I can do that and more; I can plan my wedding and learn how to become a wizard all while sipping a frothy latte and nibbling a super rich chocolate dessert.

The smell of coffee from Joe Muggs coffee shop permeates the air at the massive bookstore, and the peaceful atmosphere attracts families, students, and groups of friends of all ages.

When I meandered through Books-A-Million’s aisles this past Friday, I saw a student huddled over books and papers spread across a table in Joe Muggs coffee shop. A few tables over two men in suits sipped from their black, paper cups and talked while pointing to different papers they pulled from their briefcases. A young couple sat in the fiction aisle, giggling and whispering, and all through the store groups of people walked around the store, just killing time, not necessarily shopping.

“Books-A-Million’s main demographic,” employee Jason Carrico said, “is both older and younger people.”

Unlike a bar, there is no age requirement to sit in one of the gray leather chairs sprinkled throughout the rows of literature. And unlike a restaurant, people don’t have to pay for a whole meal to sit and hang out for a little while; they can just mingle with Shakespeare, Hegel, and Hawthorne and take their time visiting with friends.

“Younger people come in here after the mall closes because it’s free and we’re open late,” Carrico said. “A lot of older people come in here during the day to spend their lunch breaks.” He also said a lot of families and college age kids come in to complete a peaceful night out.

According to Joe Muggs employee Kelly Creed, “We have a good environment, good coffee, and unlimited amount of reading material.”

Creed said the most appealing aspect of Books-A-Million, other than the coffee, is the peaceful atmosphere. She said, it’s a good place to get away from the crowd of obnoxious people at other places, especially bars.

“You can find pretty much anything in here,” Creed said.
Books-A-Million’s versatile environment is perfect for a first date, meeting a group of friends before a night out, or just killing time before a movie, or show.