“The best Goodwill store in the area. Staff is well trained, very helpful and pleasant. Items are fairly priced with new stock on the shelves daily. Store is organized and clean. Love the discount coupon if you make a donation.”
“As the author of The Grant Colson Thriller Series and SERA Archives thriller novels, I always enjoy visiting standout bookstores, and Barnes & Noble in Calabasas at The Commons is a beautiful location. The store has a strong two-story design with escalators leading up to the second level. The layout feels open and inviting, with a warm interior that makes it easy to settle in and spend time browsing. One of the standout features is the manga section. It’s large and well stocked, and it really draws attention when you walk through. The mystery and thriller wall is also nicely set up, with a good range of titles and a clean presentation. The café is a great space, with a mural of famous authors that adds character and makes it a comfortable place to sit and read. I always enjoy seeing my own book on the shelf here, which adds a personal touch to the visit. The surrounding Commons area is upscale and well maintained, and parking is fairly easy with plenty of space available. I also spent some time in the romance section while working on The Maui Desire Romance Series, and it’s a well-organized area that fits nicely alongside the rest of the store. Overall, it’s a bright, welcoming Barnes & Noble in Calabasas with a great layout, strong selection, and a comfortable atmosphere that makes it easy to come back.”
“Barnes & Noble is easily my favorite bookstore! No matter what you're looking for, you can pretty much find any book you want here. The selection is fantastic, and the cozy atmosphere makes it such a wonderful place to spend time browsing. I come here every week with my kids, and sometimes I even come alone. No matter which corner you sit in, it's just such a wonderful and peaceful place to unwind.”
“Found this randomly googling places to go in Simi Valley, easily spent an hour here, my older kids loved it. Very clean and a ton of books. Puzzles and games were pricey but a cute little find.”
“I ordered a book online and received it within a week, granted I live hours away. I just genuinely appreciated the prompt service and my book was in perfect condition. Thank you!”
“The curation of items here is very fun. Everything is very organized, sorted well, displayed with intention, and the quality of items is very high. Unfortunately, this attention to detail is passed on to the consumer. Almost everything in the store (at least, items I'm familiar with the value of) are priced about 15% higher than I'd like. I get it, it's the cost of doing business, but it does more often than not deter me from actually making a purchase. It's a fun shop to explore, but not one I visit intending to find a hidden deal.”
“A gem and a treasure trove. Love that we have a local store like this. An amazing selection. I’ve barely scratched the surface of what the place offers but it’s one of my favorite places.”
“We love to visit Cal-Lu whenever we are in town. We love coming back, visiting college friends, seeing the changes to campus and picking up a new alumi t-shirt. Fond memories...”
“September 21st is the date of the 9/11 memorial flag removal. Nearly 3,000 flags, placed annually at Pepperdine University to honor all the unfortunate victims on that dreadful day. Both American and International are represented; a solemn sight to behold. We volunteered for the removal, and it was quite a task. And other than the initial help from the Pepperdine Men's Basketball Team, at least until they had to return back to campus, average age of volunteers? 50 and over. And not as many of us as you might expect. But the minimal crew managed to complete our task; dismantling and wrapping, in just over 2 hours. We were scheduled for an estimated 3. One beautiful part of the day was the lack of any talk of Left or Right Wing Politics. Only a gathering of Americans of multiple backgrounds, coming together and unified in this sacred task.”
“...and honestly I was a little skeptical driving over there but Im glad we did. We spent way longer than we planned walking through every aisle, I found a really nice end table that looks almost new, just needed a quick clean. We were looking for some kitchen stuff and found a few pieces that matched what we already have at home perfectly, it felt like kind of a lucky day. One thing I noticed was the store is super organized, not cluttered like some other thrift places can get, so it was alot easier to browse without getting overwhelmed. The prices seemed reasonable too, I paid less for my stuff than I would at a chain store for sure. Definitely planning to stop by again sometime if im passing through that area you know, worth the trip.”
“Somewhat limited selection. This is a smaller store in a strip mall on the corner of Victory Blvd and Platt Ave. There were about 10-12 medium sized racks that occupy the main are of the store in addition to a small shoe section, book section, and dvd/cd section, as well as a wall of mostly color-coordinated decor items. While it was limited in quantity, I feel it was well laid out with quality items, some newish, some more used. I looked at the shirts mainly and felt that $3.99 was a fair price for the t-shirts I was most interested in. I feel I could easily have outfitted myself with comfy clothes to wear out or at home. The next time I need an inexpensive ensemble on the fly, I will definitely consider this place.”
Barnes & Noble is proving that physical bookstores aren't going anywhere. The retailer just opened three new locations across Texas and South Carolina, marking another step in its comeback story. Barnes & Noble opened 57 stores in 2024 alone - more than it had opened in the entire decade from 2009 to 2019. The company isn't slowing down either, with plans to open more than 60 new stores in 2025 and a goal of reaching over 1,000 stores nationwide in the coming years.
