Barnes & Noble the New Bookseller at University District in Seattle

Booksellers will Host a Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony at the Grand Opening at 10AM on Wednesday, July 16^th, 2025

Seattle, WA – July 10, 2025 – Barnes & Noble and University Book Store are proud to announce a unique partnership and the opening of the Barnes & Noble University District Bookstore in Seattle, WA, on Wednesday, July 16^th at 10AM PST. Located at 4324 University Way NE, this collaboration brings together two respected booksellers to create a destination for book lovers in the heart of the University District.

Barnes & Noble will operate the general books department, expanding it to more than 17,000 square feet and significantly expanding the selection of books that will be carried. The store will also carry the usual further niches in which Barnes & Noble is expert, notably vinyl records. The space will be shared across two levels, with Barnes & Noble occupying the top floor and partnering with University Book Store on the lower level.

This partnership allows the University Book Store to remain as the independent bookstore Seattle has cherished for over a century. University Book Store will continue to focus on its core mission, serving the University of Washington community with textbooks, school supplies, Husky gear, and gifts.

The opening of the Barnes & Noble University District Bookstore marks a continued commitment to the Seattle area for the nation’s largest bookseller, at a time when independent and national bookstores are thriving. The partnership brings together the local expertise of University Book Store booksellers with the resources and reach of Barnes & Noble, creating a vibrant new hub for readers, students, and the community.

“We are very pleased to welcome the experienced bookselling team at University Book Store,” said James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble. “Long ago, we had a bookstore at University District and the return of large scale, general bookselling to such a vibrant community is long overdue.”

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. In 2024, Barnes & Noble opened more new bookstores in a single year than it had in the whole decade from 2009 to 2019. The bookseller expects to open over 60 new bookstores in 2025.

The University District location is one of seven new Barnes & Noble bookstores set to open in July, alongside new stores in Maryland, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Texas, and Virginia. Each grand opening has drawn enthusiastic crowds that wrap around the building, filling the store as the ribbon is cut.

“This is a unique partnership between two of my favorite stores,” said Store Manager Marleigh Thomassen. “I look forward to having a Barnes & Noble in the University District again!”

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

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