A Hidden Gem in the Mall's Basement: The Book Bunker

I've been to the Amsterdam Mall a ton of times, but I've always overlooked the underground level. The second subterranean floor is a bit of an afterthought, and it's not exactly a beautifully designed space, but it turns out there's some cool stuff down there. I stumbled upon a craft department and a stationery store. I was looking for some specific magazines with cutouts for my daughter, and the stationery store didn't have any, but as I was walking out of it, I noticed a huge corridor and a light display. It turned out to be a massive bookstore! And the name of it is 'The Book Bunker.' Yeah, the entrance and atmosphere do live up to that name. Of course, I couldn't resist checking it out, and I actually found what I was looking for.

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👍 Address: ul. Geodezicheskaya, 4/1

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Right next to the entrance on the left, there's a schedule with the store's working hours, and on the right-hand wall, there's an interesting installation made from old books.

The Book Bunker, Russia, NovosibirskInside, it's super spacious and cozy. When I go to Chitaï-Gorod, I'm usually squished in with other shoppers, and the aisles are narrow, but here, it's like a breath of fresh air!

The Book Bunker, Russia, NovosibirskI liked that there's space between the bookshelves.

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The first section I came across was the comics. I didn't spend much time there, as I'm not a fan of the genre, but I headed straight to the kids' section with the craft supplies, as it caught my eye right away. I picked up some magazines with cutouts for my daughter. She's a creative kid, just like me, and loves stuff like that.

Bookstore, Russia, Novosibirsk I was expecting the usual book arrangement by genre, but that's exactly how it was. However, the first thing that caught my attention, even in the kids' section, was that I couldn't find any price tags on the shelves. And, unlike Chayka, I couldn't find them on the books either! You can only scan them with a special scanner to find out the price. No more sticky notes to clean off your books at home, but it's a hassle to constantly scan every book or carry a big stack to the scanner.

Bookstore, Russia, Novosibirsk Bookstore, Russia, Novosibirsk Next to the medical bookshelves, I found a cozy reading area. There are some wooden boards and display stands, which I assume are used for informational purposes. They might host business training sessions, meetings, or workshops. Alternatively, you can just sit down, browse through some books, and get a feel for what's available.

Bookstore, Russia, Novosibirsk There's also a section for discounted books and a new releases island. Further on, you'll find the stationery and art supplies section, as well as shelves with puzzles, board games, and kids' toys.

Bookstore, Russia, Novosibirsk In the center of the store, there are some comfy sofas where you can sit and relax.

Bookstore, Russia, Novosibirsk I didn't get a chance to check the book prices, but my car alarm went off - it was so sensitive that the app started blasting me with notifications, like someone was trying to steal my ride! I had to rush to the checkout and see who was messing with my poor Cherik. Luckily, everything was fine, and it turned out he's super sensitive to potholes and trams driving by. I didn't end up going back to the store, but I'll definitely visit again when I'm in the area.

Bookstore, Russia, Novosibirsk Bookstore, Russia, Novosibirsk The store has discount cards, but you need to spend at least 3000 rubles to get one - I only spent 400. As a consolation, they gave me a part of a calendar for the current month. It had a nice calendar layout for February and a list of books to read. By the way, they have multiple cash registers - usually, bookstores have just one. I counted at least four.

Bookstore, Russia, Novosibirsk I really liked the store and will definitely come back, but next time I'll take my time and browse the shelves for a book to buy for myself.