Barnes & Noble Opens New Store in Chicago

Author Jeneva Rose to Host Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Book Signing at the Grand Opening at 10AM on Wednesday May 29, 2024

New York, NY – May 22, 2024 – Barnes & Noble is thrilled to announce the opening of its new Diversey Parkway bookstore on Wednesday, May 29^th. The new Barnes & Noble is located at 651 West Diversey Parkway, Chicago, IL 60614, in the space formerly occupied by Urban Outfitters, next to Trader Joe’s, near J. Crew and directly across from Hotel Versey.

The bookstore will officially open to the public at 10AM CDT on Wednesday the 29^th, with author Jeneva Rose cutting the ribbon and signing copies of her books including her newest, Home Is Where the Bodies Are. The new location showcases the highly lauded bookstore design seen in the most recent Barnes & Noble store openings, housing all the best books, toys, games and gifts that customers have come to expect from the nation’s premier bookseller.

“When the lease for our Clybourn bookstore came to an end in 2023, we announced our commitment to finding a new home in the community we had served for the past 26 years,” said James Daunt, CEO, Barnes & Noble. “We are overjoyed to be making a swift return to bookselling in the neighborhood, and even more so to open five other brick-and-mortar bookstores this month alongside Diversey Parkway. We look forward to celebrating another new Chicago Barnes & Noble in June when we open the doors of our stunning new Wicker Park bookstore, situated in the historic Noel State Bank building.”

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 exceptionally strong sales in its existing stores and has been opening many new stores after more than 15 years of declining store numbers. In 2023, 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 50 new bookstores in 2024.

The Diversey Parkway location is one of six new Barnes & Noble bookstores to open in May, and one of two opening on the Wednesday the 29^th along with a new store in Sandy, UT. Each grand opening has drawn enthusiastic crowds that wrap around the building, filling the store as the ribbon is cut.

“I am over the moon to be opening this new bookstore right in the heart of Chicago — neighboring Lincoln Park, Wrigleyville and Boystown,” said Store Manager Dianna Todd. “Having brought on board several booksellers from our former Clybourn location, our team is already familiar with our customer base and how we can best serve this community. We’re extremely excited to elevate local authors and get their books into the hands of readers.”

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