New location aims to serve Pasadena, Severna Park, and Glen Burnie readers
For years, Pasadena book lovers have trekked to Annapolis, Bowie, or even Columbia for their Barnes & Noble fix. This week, that changes. The community will welcome its very own store at Pasadena Crossroads, led by Store Manager George Dressel – who says the opening “means everything” to him and his team.
“This isn’t just a bookstore opening,” Dressel said. “Many of our booksellers live in or grew up in this area. It feels like we’re opening our doors for family, friends, and neighbors. It’s our chance to provide Pasadena, Severna Park, and Glen Burnie with the bookstore experience they’ve been missing.”
“This isn’t just a bookstore opening. Many of our booksellers live in or grew up in this area. It feels like we’re opening our doors for family, friends, and neighbors. It’s our chance to provide Pasadena, Severna Park, and Glen Burnie with the bookstore experience they’ve been missing.
The new Barnes & Noble sits right off Ritchie Highway, a location chosen with accessibility in mind. For years, local readers faced drives of up to an hour to reach other stores. “By being in such a high-traffic area, we hope more people stop by and discover us,” Dressel said.
The store itself has been designed with intention. Though long and narrow in shape, the layout creates cozy, “room-like” sections dedicated to each genre. Mystery and thriller fans, for example, will find themselves surrounded on all four sides by shelves, with two oversized chairs waiting for anyone who wants to settle in. “It creates such a visceral feeling inside your chest – the possibility of so many new adventures,” Dressel explained.
The grand opening kicks off at 9:00am on Wednesday, September 10 with a ribbon-cutting featuring bestselling author Brigid Kemmerer, who will also sign copies of her new romantasy novel Warrior Assassin Princess. Throughout the day, local authors will rotate through for signings:
- 1–3 p.m. – Trisha Shaw, Neptia Galaxy Railway (sci-fi/fantasy)
- 3–5 p.m. – Rebecca Deng, What They Meant For Evil (nonfiction memoir)
- 5:30–7:30 p.m. – Maurice Hicks, Looking for Trouble (true-life police memoir)
And for families, children’s book character Pete the Cat will make an appearance, ready for photos and high-fives.
While this Barnes & Noble won’t include a café, customers will find plenty of seating throughout the store, including benches near the magazine section. A surprising highlight, added Lead Bookseller Kylie Bartolowits, is the expansive Lego aisle, which he says rivals that of a dedicated Lego store. With sections for both kids and adults – from Duplo to collector sets – the aisle is expected to be a destination in itself.
“Barnes & Noble may be a bookstore first, but we have so much more to offer,” Dressel said, adding that Premium members of the store even receive discounts on Lego.
Dressel envisions the Pasadena location as more than just a retail space. Plans include at least two author signings per month and, possibly, themed book clubs like one centered on horror, thanks to the store’s deputy manager who is a genre superfan. He’s also eager for community feedback.
“The bottom line is, we’re Pasadena’s Barnes & Noble,” Dressel said. “If there’s a title you want us to stock or an event you’d love to see, tell us. What you want, we’ll do our best to provide.”
Despite the rise of e-readers and digital media, Barnes & Noble is growing. Maryland will open six locations over a two-year span. “Bookstores are not disappearing,” Dressel said. “In fact, book sales are increasing. We’ll always sell books, whether that’s in print or digital with our Nook devices.”
Dressel hopes this store will remain a staple for decades to come. And if you ask him for a book recommendation? He and Lead Bookseller Kylie Bartolowits agree – James by Percival Everett, which was awarded Barnes & Noble’s 2024 Book of the Year.
“It’s deeply funny, philosophical, and unflinching in its look at race,” he said. “It’s a novel that stays with you long after you finish. That’s what a good bookstore should do too – give you something lasting to take with you.”
Barnes & Noble at Pasadena Crossroads will open with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting on Wednesday, September 10 at 9:00am. It is located at 8044 Ritchie Highway in the same space as the former Party City. For more information on hours of operation, visit their website.
