by Illinois — Iconic bookstore chain Barnes & Noble is continuing a strong nationwide comeback, announcing plans to open more than 60 new brick-and-mortar stores in 2026, including at least one confirmed location in Illinois.
Company officials say the expansion reflects a dramatic turnaround after years of store closures, driven by a renewed focus on local booksellers, community engagement, and in-store experience.
Illinois Among States With Confirmed New Stores
Barnes & Noble confirmed that Illinois is among the states with leases already signed for 2026, alongside Ohio, Texas, Florida, Colorado, Washington state, Washington D.C., California, Virginia, and Georgia.
According to reporting from Block Club Chicago, a new Barnes & Noble store is planned for Hyde Park, with an expected opening in February 2026. While the company has not yet publicly confirmed the exact address, the project would mark another significant addition to Chicago’s literary landscape.
Company Credits Local Control for Growth
In a statement shared with NBC Chicago, Barnes & Noble said the key to its resurgence has been shifting decision-making power back to individual stores and local staff.
“Barnes & Noble is enjoying a period of tremendous growth as the strategy to hand control of each bookstore to its local booksellers has proven so successful,” the company said. “We are experiencing strong sales in our existing stores and have been opening many new stores after more than 15 years of declining store numbers.”
The company emphasized that the 2026 expansion will include both new markets and a return to communities the chain once served.
Chicago-Area Comeback Already Underway
The upcoming Hyde Park location would build on Barnes & Noble’s recent momentum across the Chicago area. Over the past few years, the company has opened or reopened stores in:
- Wicker Park, inside a historic building that once housed Walgreens’ famous “Vitamin Vault”
- Lincoln Park
- Northbrook
- Westfield Old Orchard Mall in Skokie
These openings reflect a broader strategy of placing stores in high-traffic, community-oriented neighborhoods, often with architectural or cultural significance.
Reopening Stores Once Lost to Closures
Barnes & Noble’s revival is not limited to new locations. The company has also reopened stores that closed during the 1990s and 2000s, including in:
- Park Slope, Brooklyn
- Long Beach, California
- Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
In some cases, the new stores are reopening in the same locations that were shuttered more than 20 years ago.
A company release noted that between 2009 and 2020, Barnes & Noble closed over half of its New York City stores, a period that marked the chain’s steepest decline.
Expansion Pace Accelerating
Barnes & Noble says its recent growth has outpaced anything seen in more than a decade.
In 2024, the company opened more new bookstores in a single year than it did during the entire decade from 2009 to 2019, according to company statements. The bookseller expects to open more than 60 stores in 2025, followed by another 60 in 2026.
Executives say the demand for physical bookstores remains strong, especially as customers seek community spaces, curated selections, and in-person events that online retailers cannot replicate.
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Why the Comeback Matters
The expansion signals renewed confidence in brick-and-mortar retail, particularly for books and cultural goods once thought to be dominated by e-commerce. Industry analysts note that Barnes & Noble’s shift toward local autonomy allows stores to better reflect neighborhood tastes, host events, and build loyal customer bases.
For Illinois readers, the planned Hyde Park store and additional expansion represent a broader return of physical bookstores as community hubs.
What’s Next
While full details on Illinois locations have yet to be released, Barnes & Noble says more announcements are expected as construction and hiring timelines are finalized.
For now, the company’s message is clear: after years of contraction, Barnes & Noble is firmly in growth mode once again.
Are you excited to see more Barnes & Noble stores opening in Illinois? Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the discussion.
