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Chicago & Midwest  + Downtown  + Retail  |  January 7, 2026
Jasmine Kilman
By: Jasmine Kilman

Barnes & Noble Opening Four Chicago Stores

Barnes & Noble will open four new locations in the Chicago area in 2026, including a large store off Michigan Avenue, as part of the bookstore’s expansion across the U.S.

The move comes as Barnes & Noble plans to open 60 new stores in 2026, following a strong sales period and a record number of openings in 2024 and 2025. The bookseller is set to open a store at 150 N. State Street in the former Old Navy location, which will span more than 30,000 square feet.

Barnes & Noble will also open an 18,000-square-foot location in early 2026 at 1524 E. 55th St. in Hyde Park. The company will relocate its two-level store at Westfield Old Orchard to another space within the mall in the spring.

In Oak Park, a new 20,000-square-foot Barnes & Noble will open in the location of a former Borders Books and Music in late spring 2026. In 2024, Barnes & Noble opened a new Wicker Park bookstore inside the historic Noel State Bank building.

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About Jasmine Kilman

Jasmine Kilman is Content Director of Connect Commercial Real Estate, covering Chicago and greater Chicagoland, the Midwest, Seattle, and the Pacific Northwest. She covers industry trends, transaction deals, market research, and produces daily news stories. With experience in marketing and communications for academic nonprofits and corporate clients, including Hearst Media, Hilton, and Coldwell Banker, Kilman has written about commercial real estate, environmental, social, and corporate governance (ESG), technology, healthcare, and philanthropy. She was born and raised in California and graduated with a degree in public relations. In her spare time, Kilman enjoys hiking and traveling to new locations with her family.
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