Barnes & Noble makes its way back to Issaquah

This fall, the bookstore will welcome readers to its Issaquah location, showcasing a modernized look.

By Cameron Sires • May 17, 2024 3:15 pm

After nearly four years, Barnes & Noble is returning to Issaquah.

The grand opening day is expected in the fall at the Issaquah Commons, according to an announcement from the company.

“Our customers have expressed their desire for an inviting bookstore with a wide selection, and we are pleased to announce that Barnes & Noble, one of the most well-known and respected national brands in book sales, will join Issaquah Commons this fall,” Steve Emery, senior general manager for the shopping center wrote in the press release.

The new 25,000-square-foot store, situated between Sephora and Chipotle at the 775 NW Gilman Blvd. location, will replace Bed Bath & Beyond and aims to open in late October or early November, said Janine Flanigan, senior director of store planning and design for the bookstore.

The store will bring 20 to 35 job opportunities for local booksellers, Flanigan wrote in an email.

The previous Barnes & Noble — which closed in 2020 due to its lease expiration — operated at Pickering Place for 25 years. Although the new bookstore will continue to hold a selection of books, magazines, toys, games, gifts and vinyl, it will have an updated look.

The new design will include updated fixtures, furniture and brighter colors and finishes, such as a white oak finish to the bookcases. Beyond a fresh coat of paint and new flooring, the bookstore will implement a new layout, but still have room for its classic cafe.

“Our new stores are arranged in rooms. Each room houses a category or series of categories each typically related to each other,” Flanigan said. “The flow of the building is intended to take you on a journey of discovery throughout the store.”

Each room will have a display for booksellers to highlight the top books in a category and books important to their customers, she added.

The Bed Bath & Beyond turned Barnes & Noble store will not be the first of its kind, with the book retailer moving into around 12 Bed Bath & Beyond locations around the country after the home emporium retailer announced bankruptcy in April 2023.

“The size and space in each location was right and allowed us to enter some new markets and to remodel in others,” Flanigan said.

As it gets closer to the grand opening, the book retailer will share additional information, according to a press release. Until the opening, readers can visit Barnes & Noble’s Tukwila or Bellevue locations.