Community Corner
Basement Flood Temporarily Closes Barnes & Noble Children's Book Section
Dollar loss figures are still being tabulated after broken water pipe caused damage.
A broken water pipe flooded the basement of Bethesda's popular bookstore late last week, causing the store to close its large children’s section for several days.
The pipe broke early Thursday morning, flooding the basement level with water about an inch or two deep, Thom Hayes, the store manager, said in a phone interview Monday morning.
The remnants of the damage were apparent Saturday night and again Sunday evening.
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“Due to flooding the children’s department is temporarily closed,” read a sign posted on the bookstore's front door Saturday. “For your safety we cannot permit any customers to enter this area at this time and ask you for your patience and understanding.”
Downstairs more than half the basement, including the entire children’s section, was cordoned off with yellow warning tape.
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“It was a water pipe break from a store around us,” Hayes said, though he wouldn't comment further.
At least ten shop vacuums were still buzzing away Saturday as workers continued to clean up the mess. By Sunday evening, the situation had improved to where children’s section had partially reopened. But three or four vaccuums remained idle on the left side facing the entrance to the children’s department, and there was a distinct musty odor of mildew remained in the air.
Asked to comment on a dollar figure for the children’s books damaged or destroyed, Hayes said, “We are still tabulating the numbers and don’t have an exact figure yet.”