Barnes & Noble Makes Its Debut in Montana’s Capital City

Author Luke Larkin to Host Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Book Signing at the Grand Opening at 9AM on Wednesday, November 18^th, 2026

Helena, MT – November 4^th, 2026

Barnes & Noble is pleased to announce the opening of its new Helena, MT bookstore on Wednesday, November 18^th at 9AM MST. The new store is the first Barnes & Noble bookstore to open in Helena.

The new Barnes & Noble offers more than 9,000 square feet of books, toys, games, magazines, stationery items, and more. The new Helena, MT Barnes & Noble is located in Skyway Regional Shopping Center (2005 Cromwell Dixon Lane Helena MT 59602), situated near Custer Avenue, Washington Street, and Interstate 15 interchange. The new Barnes & Noble occupies the former Shoe Carnival space, next to TJ Maxx. This is the second new store to open in Montana in the last two years, joining a store that opened in Kalispell in 2024.

Helena Barnes & Noble bookstore will officially open to the public at 9 AM Mountain on Wednesday the 18^th, with local author Luke Larkin cutting the ribbon and signing copies of their debut novel , The Unheld. Costume Character Llama Llama will also join the festivities and host special storytime events over the weekend.

The new Helena Barnes & Noble opens as the bookseller continues its transformation, renovating its older stores and opening 60 new stores in 2026. Barnes & Noble now boasts over 735 bookstores, having been below 600 stores as recently as 2023. The design of the Helena store showcases the ambition of Barnes & Noble to create exceptional local bookstores that marry the best traditions of independent bookselling with the resources of the historic chain.

Barnes & Noble Premium and Rewards Members will earn double stamps on all purchases made between November 18^th and the 22^nd. Customers who are not yet Members are encouraged to sign up and start earning stamps and rewards right away.

Everyone who visits the new Helena Barnes & Noble during the grand opening will have access to exclusive deals, like $50 off any NOOK device. Customers can also save 40% on all DVD, Blu-ray, and 4k Ultra HD movies.

“We are very pleased to open this beautiful bookstore in Helena,” said James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble. “Opening just before the holiday season makes the timing particularly nice, and we look forward to becoming part of the community and welcoming local readers into the store.”

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 bookseller is experiencing strong sales in its existing stores and has been opening many new stores after more than 15 years of declining store numbers.

Store Managers Adam Pearce and Staci Sylva look forward to opening a new store in Helena. They said, “We are thrilled to bring Barnes & Noble to Helena and create a welcoming space where readers can connect, discover new favorites, and share their love of books. Having met many Helena readers at our Great Falls store, we know how excited the community is to have a bookstore close to home. It’s an honor to build this store from the ground up, and we look forward to creating a memorable experience for our customers and developing an exceptional team of booksellers."

Customers can discover more about upcoming events and news by following @bnhelenamt on social media.

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