As a regular patron since 2016, I have experienced the beauty of community at Kendall Barnes and Noble. It has become a hub for friends to hang out, students to study, and book lovers to find a good read. This isn’t a simple book store, but a haven for people of all ages in Miami. 

Part of the charm is the absence of mandatory purchase, although there are many, myself included, that do contribute to its sales by buying books or stopping by the cafe. It is a symbol of community which is fast disappearing, and the proposed destruction to replace it with a Rooms to Go is alarming. Not only will it rob Miami of a valuable third space but it will contribute to the larger issue that is the commercialization of public spaces. 

Based on a report by The University of Chicago “Third places make us feel as if we belong to a society bigger than ourselves”

We urge the powers who plan to demolish Barnes n Noble and Cafe at Kendall Village Center, to reconsider. We need more spaces like this, not less. If you agree and want to maintain such community-oriented spaces in Miami, sign this petition.