The Beginning of The End at Barnes & Noble

There are huge markdowns at Reston's Barnes & Noble as the store prepares to close at the end of February.

A large portion of the store's merchandise is between 30 and 50 percent off, and some shelves have been cleared of stock altogether.

The store announced last month that its lease was not renewed and it would be closing at the end of February. Lerner, the owner of the Spectrum shopping center where Barnes & Noble is located, says a Container Store will open in the space in the fall of 2013.

The Spectrum is also slated to undergo a massive renovation into a mixed-use, high density location. Planned redevelopment of this shopping center includes the following:

Land Bay A is planned for 546 dwelling units, 255 hotel rooms, 172,000 square feet of office, and 62,500 square feet of retail uses; Land Bay B is planned for 643 dwelling units, 270 hotel rooms, and 48,650 square feet of retail uses; and Land Bay C is planned for 237 residential uses and 134,896 square feet or retail and bank uses (84,000 square feet of this retail is currently existing and will be retained).

On Nov. 1, The Fairfax County Planning Commission recommended the Spectrum plan for approval.