Are malls betting on bookstores for a return to life?? After 6 years, Barnes & Noble just re-opened at a new location at the 3rd St Promenade in Santa Monica! Apparently they’re planning on 50 new US stores this year. The old Promenade B&N lasted 22 years and its closure heralded a grim downturn there. If B&N can afford mall rents and super popular indie bookstores can be in neighborhoods like mine, could we be entering a new community bookstore golden age???