Bookstore closed following raft of complaints over 'hostile' environment
Customers took to social media accusing the staff at 'Alfie & Noa' of 'hostile' interactions.
QBD Books will open a new store at Castle Towers in Sydney’s north-west “before Easter 2026”, positioning the move as a back-to-basics pitch for book lovers: browse, read, and ask for recommendations.
The announcement lands days after Castle Hill bookstore Alfie & Noa closed at the shopping centre following months of public backlash about customer treatment.
What’s happening at Castle Towers?
• New retailer: QBD Books will open a Castle Towers store ahead of the Easter school holidays.
• Timing: The retailer says the store will open “before Easter 2026”.
• The subtext: QBD’s messaging leans heavily into welcoming browsing, after the centre’s recent bookshop controversy.
A new tenant after Alfie & Noa’s exit
Alfie & Noa stopped trading at Castle Towers on Friday 16 January 2026, with centre management telling The Daily Telegraph the business would depart the site following “months” of discussions.
A review of the 'Alfie & Noa' bookstore.
The closure followed widespread social media commentary and online reviews accusing staff of hostile interactions with shoppers, including claims that customers were closely monitored, followed around the store, and discouraged from browsing or flipping through books.
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A review of the 'Alfie & Noa' bookstore.
NSW Fair Trading also confirmed it had received seven consumer complaints about the business, according to comments reported by The Daily Telegraph.
A review of the 'Alfie & Noa' bookstore.
QBD’s message: browse without pressure
In its release, QBD Books repeatedly emphasised the “freedom to browse” and a “genuinely welcoming approach” to reading.
“At QBD, we believe bookshops should be lively, engaging and accessible,” said Nick Croydon, CEO of QBD Books. “We love the energy that comes from people exploring shelves, chatting with our booksellers and getting excited about their next read.”
Croydon also underlined the retailer’s stance on how customers should be treated in-store: “If you want to browse, browse. If you want to read a few pages, read a few pages. If you want help choosing your next book, our booksellers are right there.”
Nick Croydon, CEO of QBD Books
What customers can expect
QBD said the Castle Towers store will carry bestselling and backlist titles across fiction and non-fiction, plus children’s and young adult books, puzzles and gifts. The retailer also flagged “Easter-ready reads” as part of the opening range.
The business positioned the store as a local community hub for the Hills District, emphasising value and accessibility.
QBD Books describes itself as Australia’s largest book and puzzle retailer, Australian-owned, with more than 90 stores nationally and an online store. The company says it has been in operation for more than 150 years.
