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**Barnes & Noble to Open Four New Stores in Chicago Area in 2026**
Barnes & Noble is expanding its footprint in the Chicago area with four new store openings planned for 2026, including a flagship location near Michigan Avenue. This expansion is part of the bookseller’s broader national growth strategy, which includes plans to open 60 new stores across the U.S. next year.
One of the largest of the new Chicago-area locations will be at 150 N. State Street, occupying over 30,000 square feet in the former Old Navy space. Another new store, spanning 18,000 square feet, is scheduled to open in early 2026 at 1524 E. 55th Street in Hyde Park.
Additionally, Barnes & Noble will relocate its two-level store within Westfield Old Orchard to a new space in the same mall. In Oak Park, the company will open a new 20,000-square-foot store on the site of the former Borders Books and Music, expected to debut in late spring 2026.
This follows the successful 2024 opening of their Wicker Park location in the historic Noel State Bank building. Barnes & Noble’s latest growth comes after consecutive years of strong sales, reflecting a resurgence of interest in physical bookstores.
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