Barnes & Noble Opens New Store in La Jolla10/20/2025

Author Pam Fong to Host Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Book Signing at the Grand Opening at 10AM on Wednesday, October 8^th, 2025

La Jolla, CA - October 1, 2025 -Barnes & Noble is thrilled to announce its new San Diego bookstore, opening in La Jolla on Wednesday, October 8^th.

Barnes & Noble is returning to La Jolla, following the closure of the famous Bookstar store located in the Costa Verde Center in February of 2022. The new Barnes & Noble is located just a five-minute drive away in La Jolla Village Square (8657 Villa La Jolla Dr., La Jolla, CA 92037), between World Market and PetSmart. The new space extends to over 15,000 square feet of books, toys, games, magazines, gift items and more.

The new Barnes & Noble bookstore will officially open to the public at 10AM PT on Wednesday the 8^th, with local author & illustrator Pam Fong cutting the ribbon and signing copies of her books, including her most recent release The Little Cloud.

"We are very pleased to be bring a bookstore back to La Jolla, just a short drive from our previous, much-loved location," said James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble. "La Jolla over the years has been such an important community for Barnes & Noble and we were devastated to have to close the Bookstar back in 2022. Our La Jolla booksellers will be very proud to welcome their customers back to their beautiful new Barnes & Noble."

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 La Jolla location is one of eight new Barnes & Noble bookstores set to open in October, alongside new stores in northern California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Louisiana and Tennessee. Each grand opening has drawn enthusiastic crowds that wrap around the building, filling the store as the ribbon is cut.

The design of the La Jolla 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. The new La Jolla Barnes & Noble will cover over 15,000 square feet and carry all the best books, as well as a wide range of toys, games and the usual paper and gifting items found at Barnes & Noble.

"Our Booksellers are as eager to be back in La Jolla as they are to welcome customers into their new La Jolla Village Square Barnes & Noble," said Store Manager Andrea Lew, Barnes & Noble bookseller of 10 years. "For readers looking to spend time and connect with the community, we are just the place. The Barnes & Noble La Jolla booksellers look forward to welcoming all to explore the stacks!"

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

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