BooksAMillion Closing Due To Lease Issues

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Permalink Reply by Theresa on January 15, 2013 at 5:39am

I wish they would put Books-A-Million on the east side of town. I live in Belleview and end up driving all the way across town if I want to buy a book. The old Albertson's grocery store has been closed for years and it would make a good location for a book store. There is a lot of parking and a new store would boost the retail traffice for the other stores located in the shopping center.

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Permalink Reply by Pat Carter on January 15, 2013 at 7:16pm

I agree with Teresa.  It takes some of us "eastsiders" a half hour to get across town. Just not worth it. It's like Ocala is two separate towns.  I would also love to see it at the old Albertsons store.  It would be a great place with plenty of parking. 

When I first moved here in 1990, we had Sears  there, before it became Albertson's; we had music stores, Kash and Carrys and Joannes fabrics. Of course the grocery stores went out of business, but I hated losing Joannes and Sears to the West side of town.  I still refuse to step foot in Joanne's, lol.

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Permalink Reply by Row's~mommy on January 15, 2013 at 9:55pm

You are bringing back great memories for me :) remember ben franklins crafts store where save a lot is now?? And the sears portrait studio below where dockside imports is now :) good memories from my childhood. But yes. I would love to see a good place go into the old albertsons. Would love an indoor play place for kids there too :) its a one stop shop with the pizza and ice cream place there :) plus the library is across the street.

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Permalink Reply by Theresa on January 16, 2013 at 4:54am

When the mall went up, it seems that the city forgot about the east side of town. All the good fabric stores are on the west side, the only two book stores are on the west side, all the sporting good stores like Dicks, Sports Authority and Gander Mountain are on the west. They forgot that there are people in Silver Springs, Candler, Belleview, Silver Springs Shores, and Ocklawaha that need to drive all the way across town to shop. I use to visit Dockside Imports a lot but now it's a ghost town in that shopping center and I can't see driving from Belleview up there for just one item. We should contact Books-A-Million corporate and tell them to put the store in East Ocala.

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Permalink Reply by Jen Ryan on January 16, 2013 at 5:44am

I feel the same way honestly and I live on the West side of town. I do understand how far it is for you guys because living where we do it takes me almost the same amount of time to get where I want to go to Hobby Lobby etc. Anything downtown and it's definitely going to take a good 30 mins or more. It truly is like there are two separate cities and it is very spread out. I remember when we first moved here I couldn't get over how huge Ocala was and how spread out it seemed. I honestly went to Barnes and Nobles more because it is much closer to me than going all the way over there. Hopefully they will put it in a more central location when it makes it's return

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Permalink Reply by Pat Carter on January 16, 2013 at 2:39pm

Maybe there can be two. :)

Jen Ryan said:

I feel the same way honestly and I live on the West side of town. I do understand how far it is for you guys because living where we do it takes me almost the same amount of time to get where I want to go to Hobby Lobby etc. Anything downtown and it's definitely going to take a good 30 mins or more. It truly is like there are two separate cities and it is very spread out. I remember when we first moved here I couldn't get over how huge Ocala was and how spread out it seemed. I honestly went to Barnes and Nobles more because it is much closer to me than going all the way over there. Hopefully they will put it in a more central location when it makes it's return

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Permalink Reply by Pat Carter on January 16, 2013 at 2:41pm

I stopped in Dockside today.  Turns out they are closing and everything is 50% off.  It's picked through already, but there are still some items left. Just thought I'd share with anyone who is a fan of that store.

Theresa said:

When the mall went up, it seems that the city forgot about the east side of town. All the good fabric stores are on the west side, the only two book stores are on the west side, all the sporting good stores like Dicks, Sports Authority and Gander Mountain are on the west. They forgot that there are people in Silver Springs, Candler, Belleview, Silver Springs Shores, and Ocklawaha that need to drive all the way across town to shop. I use to visit Dockside Imports a lot but now it's a ghost town in that shopping center and I can't see driving from Belleview up there for just one item. We should contact Books-A-Million corporate and tell them to put the store in East Ocala.

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Permalink Reply by Momville on January 16, 2013 at 10:43pm

That's for sure.  We have no craft stores left on this side of town now :( and a good bookstore would be great, too.  I hate having to go across town to get my crafts, especially around Christmas.  It's such a headache going in the traffic on that side of town.

Pat Carter said:

I agree with Teresa.  It takes some of us "eastsiders" a half hour to get across town. Just not worth it. It's like Ocala is two separate towns.  I would also love to see it at the old Albertsons store.  It would be a great place with plenty of parking. 

When I first moved here in 1990, we had Sears  there, before it became Albertson's; we had music stores, Kash and Carrys and Joannes fabrics. Of course the grocery stores went out of business, but I hated losing Joannes and Sears to the West side of town.  I still refuse to step foot in Joanne's, lol.

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Permalink Reply by Momville on January 16, 2013 at 10:44pm

One more bites the dust -- sad

Pat Carter said:

I stopped in Dockside today.  Turns out they are closing and everything is 50% off.  It's picked through already, but there are still some items left. Just thought I'd share with anyone who is a fan of that store.

Theresa said:

When the mall went up, it seems that the city forgot about the east side of town. All the good fabric stores are on the west side, the only two book stores are on the west side, all the sporting good stores like Dicks, Sports Authority and Gander Mountain are on the west. They forgot that there are people in Silver Springs, Candler, Belleview, Silver Springs Shores, and Ocklawaha that need to drive all the way across town to shop. I use to visit Dockside Imports a lot but now it's a ghost town in that shopping center and I can't see driving from Belleview up there for just one item. We should contact Books-A-Million corporate and tell them to put the store in East Ocala.

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Permalink Reply by Theresa on January 19, 2013 at 5:58am

Just read that Books-A-Million is going to have a going out of business sale and the store is closing in February. I am going to see what they have. I like having books, my daughter has an e-reader and that is fine if you don't share books. I like to share books.

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Permalink Reply by Jen Ryan on January 19, 2013 at 8:03am

oh wow! The first article said they weren't. Maybe we should head over there too....thanks for posting!

Theresa said:

Just read that Books-A-Million is going to have a going out of business sale and the store is closing in February. I am going to see what they have. I like having books, my daughter has an e-reader and that is fine if you don't share books. I like to share books.

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Permalink Reply by Theresa on January 22, 2013 at 5:37am

I went to Books-A-Million today and it did not even look like they were moving or going out of business. The books on sale were limited, there were no signs on the doors stating they were moving or anything was really happening. I am just going to wait until I see signs indicating they are closing.

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