The newest location now at Westfield Old Orchard in Skokie.
Local author Hayley Gelfuso cut the ribbon on the latest location opening in the Chicago area.
"I was so excited when there was a new store, so it was definitely worth taking the day off work to come in and check it out," shopper Amanda Larson said. "It smells so fresh, and I'm just in awe. It's absolutely gorgeous, gorgeous store."
Customers rushed in to the new store on Wednesday morning located in the Old Orchard shopping district of Skokie.
The new two-story bookstore offers its familiar assortment of books, toys, games, magazines, gift items, and more.
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"I just like the whole vibe of bookstores. I love coming and walking around and just looking at everything," shopper Lennox Leukaufe said. "So, if you just come, like not looking for anything specific, you might find something new. Find something new that you don't even know about."
Barnes & Noble now has over 700 bookstores nationwide and having less than 600 locations in 2023.
In 2025, the retail giant opened more bookstores in a single year than it had from 2009 to 2019.
"Barnes & Noble is going through an incredible period of growth. I've been with the company for a long time, and it's just been a really exciting couple of years," store manager Sarah Kane said. "Chicago is really, really winning this year for sure."
The Skokie location is the first of four new Barnes & Noble stores set to open in Illinois this year.
A new store in Hyde Park will open next week, with two other locations in Oak Park and downtown Chicago on State Street.
"We need more bookstores. People need to read. They need to get off their phones. We need to stop scrolling. Time to read. Bust out the books," Larson said.
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