In a significant retail move, bookseller Barnes & Noble is opening a new store in Phoenix, the first to grace the Valley in two decades; this opening is happening amidst a period of major expansion for the company. The new location, housed in what was once a Forever 21 store, is set to welcome customers at The Shops at Town & Country at 2011 E. Camelback Road, with a grand opening scheduled for Wednesday, according to details from ABC15.
The opening ceremony of the 18,500-square-foot space will be punctuated by a ribbon-cutting by author Kathleen Glasgow, who will also sign copies of her books including "Girl in Pieces" and "The Glass Girl," revealing that book signings and community engagement are part of the new store's ethos; this information comes courtesy of a peek provided by the Phoenix New Times. James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble, expressed his pleasure in opening the new Phoenix location, stating, "Our booksellers are eager to open the doors to this beautiful new Barnes & Noble and our baristas look forward to welcoming patrons into their brand-new B&N Café."
In sharp contrast to the darker design of prior Barnes & Noble stores, the new Phoenix bookstore adopts a fresher, lighter aesthetic, with an expanded product mix that includes not just books but also toys, games, and gifts. This store contributes to the dozen Barnes & Noble locations already in metro Phoenix, such locations covering areas from Scottsdale to Tempe, creating a robust presence in the region.
Moreover, the Phoenix store represents one of the three new openings for Barnes & Noble in June, alongside stores in Connecticut and Virginia the other two locations adding to the expansive thrust the company is taking this year; the company reveals it anticipates the opening of over 60 new stores in 2025, which marks the continuation of an aggressive expansion strategy that saw more new openings in 2024 than in the decade from 2009 to 2019. "The next chapter for book lovers in the Biltmore community begins now," said Town & Country store manager Rusty Rubert, indicating an optimistic outlook for the bookstore's success in a statement obtained by Phoenix New Times.
