Ah, the charms of the mega bookstore. Shelves and shelves of options, actual room to browse through them (I’m looking at you, Kramerbooks!), and the inexplicable tolerance for people who just read all day without paying.

That special experience will now be a little less available in the D.C. area, because the Barnes & Noble in Union Station is closing, according to the Post and Prince of Petworth. The store’s last day will be Dec. 31.

A Barnes & Noble spokesman tells the Post that the company had to leave because of redevelopment around Union Station. While they were offered a new location, Barnes & Noble decided to close instead.

With the Union Station store closing, that means the downtown Barnes & Noble on 12th Street NW will soon be the District’s only Barnes & Noble. The city’s two Borders closed last year, after the company declared bankruptcy.

Photo by Darrow Montgomery