LOOK: National Book Store Opens Another Superbranch Down South

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(SPOT.ph) We had the first of National Book Store's "superbranches," a.k.a. their refreshed, premier-tier series of flagship stores in SM Mall of Asia in 2024. We saw where NBS is taking the future of shopping for books and supplies through a more modern, immersive, and full-circle experience, making these spots more or less a third space where retail meets leisure, coffee, and snacks.

These superbranches are, of course, bigger, with spacious corners, aesthetic nooks, and a much larger book inventory and offerings—the one in SM Mall of Asia even has a dedicated space for K-Pop merch and other collectibles. Another one just opened, and this time further south at none other than Festival Mall in Alabang. It ticks all the right boxes, with a dedicated play area for kids to read and play.

Also read: LOOK: National Book Store's 24/7 Book Vending Machine Is Now Open

From their old spot on the ground level of the West Wing, bookworms from the South who go to NBS for all their book, office, school, and even stationery needs and everything in between can now find the new branch on the upper ground floor of the mall's East Wing.

It's bigger and better, boasting over 1,100 square meters of retail space with a wide selection of office and school supplies, anything arts and crafts courtesy of Art Bar, and an in-store Toby's Estate with ample seating.

But there are two things to watch out for at this specific superbranch: the spacious kids' area with a dedicated playground and learning nook, and, while the expanded general book selection is already a given in these spaces, NBS' Festival Mall Superbranch showcases them in a way that reminds us of those aesthetic bookstores in South Korea, like the Coex Mall Starfield Library, for example. Allow us to walk you through our favorite spots inside the new space here:

Of course, we're starting with where all the books are. Situated at the far back of the superbranch—which, walking towards to feels like going through the fur coats in the wardrobe before getting into the magical world of Narnia, but instead of fur coats, it's office and school supplies—is National Book Store's expansive selection of reads.

There's enough space for every bookworm to freely walk around between the shelves, and the vibes are light with its wooden interiors. Walls are lined with books; some corners are stocked with titles from floor to ceiling; and even the littlest of details make the room look like it's made entirely of books. There are corners with shelves whose surfaces you can sit on while being literally surrounded by your favorite titles.

While the books are sealed as they are for purchasing, there's a shelf in one corner that is the Open Shelf, and all lined up over there are copies free to browse and read while you're inside the store, granted you handle them with care and return them as soon as you're done reading.

Seating spaces can be found around the area, but the best spot is probably right beside the Seoulful Stories nook, since it's beside a window overlooking greenery around Festival Mall. For the uninitiated, Seoulful Stories is a dedicated space for Korean literature, and it's in partnership with the Korean Cultural Center in the Philippines.

Remember the days when Mom had to drag us to NBS for some last-minute school shopping? Looking through the book covers and skimming a few was our form of entertainment as they went through our requirements.

For the kids visiting this new branch, though, they're in for a much more exciting visit. On one side of the store are not just the usual educational toys and children's books and supplies, but an indoor playground. Yes, an actual play space complete with a slide on artificial grass flooring. Beside it is a tree-like nook where they can read. The bookshelves in here are also shaped like cute animals.

National Book Store has a wide range of reading materials and workbooks for kids of all ages. They've got picture books and storybooks, art and school supplies, and even toys and games mostly in this area.

National Book Store's superbranches are not aiming to have people come in just to buy books, but also to have them spend more time and enjoy the company, whether it's with friends or by yourself with your current or new read in tow.

After browsing the store's selection, visitors can head over to Toby's Estate, located just beside the reading space, for coffee and light snacks, which you can take your time eating at the available seating in the area. Their menu has coffee and non-coffee items, teas, fresh juices, and pastries.

There's a mini outdoor seating area with a view of the lagoon. We imagine reading a book here would heal the soul.

There are reading, playing, and even eating spaces—now it's time to create. Arts, crafts, and stationery items from popular brands such as Campus, Stationery, Mont Marte, and Caran d'Ache, among others, also have their own space in this superbranch. From pens, erasers, and highlighters to paint, brushes of different sizes, watercolors, and canvases—you can grab it all here.

There's even a stamping station that you can use on your personal or even purchased books, notebooks, journals, or other items, provided you handle them with, of course, care. Don't stamp them on unpaid items!

The rest of the space is, of course, full of office and school supplies. Heck, there are now even home essentials and desk accessories up for grabs in the store. You can keep an eye out for the shelves with sulit finds and low-priced items to make the most of your budget and visits. They even have Halloween and Christmas decor smack dab in the middle of the store. Gift wrapping services are also available inside.

Where's the next space for the next Superbranch? It's none other than in Cubao. But no, not at the iconic eight-story standalone National Book Store Cubao along General Roxas Avenue, where our childhood was made; it'll be a new location situated just inside Gateway Mall 2, slated to open in 2027. The board-up is actually up at the moment.

For more of National Book Store's offerings, check out their website as well as their official Shopee and Lazada pages. National Book Store has branches nationwide.

The National Book Store Superbranch in Festival Mall is located on the Upper Ground Floor, East Wing, Festival Mall, Corporate Ave, Alabang, Muntinlupa City. For more information and updates, check out National Book Store's Facebook and Instagram pages.

Also read:
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