Barnes & Noble Restored to Skokie, IL02/19/2026

The Bookseller Returns with a New Store Just Weeks after Closing

Author Hayley Gelfuso to Host Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony and Book Signing at the Grand Opening at 10 AM on Wednesday, February 25^th, 2026

Skokie, IL - February 19, 2026 -Barnes & Noble has wasted little time in bringing back a bookstore to Westfield Old Orchard where it closed in January. The new Skokie, IL bookstore opens on Wednesday, February 25^th.

The new two-story Barnes & Noble is also to be a very large bookstore, offering nearly 23,000 square feet of its familiar assortment of books, toys, games, magazines, gift items, and more. The new store is located in the Old Orchard shopping district of Skokie, IL at Westfield Old Orchard (4999 Old Orchard Center, Suite H11, Skokie, IL 60077), in the former Zara space, near Loft and The Cheesecake Factory.

The new Barnes & Noble bookstore will officially open to the public at 10AM on Wednesday the 25^th, with local author Hayley Gelfuso cutting the ribbon and signing copies of her acclaimed debut novel and GMA Book Club pick, The Book of Lost Hours.

Barnes & Noble's previous bookstore in Old Orchard closed last month as part of the ongoing renovation of the shopping center. Happily, the new store is just around the corner from the old one, making for an easy transition for shoppers to see the newly invested bookstore.

Barnes & Noble Premium and Rewards Members will earn double stamps on all purchases made at the new Barnes & Noble between February 25^th and March 1^st. Customers who are not yet Members are encouraged to sign up and start earning stamps and rewards right away.

Everyone who visits the new Old Orchard Barnes & Noble during the grand opening will have access to exclusive deals, like $50 off any NOOK device. Customers can also save 40% on all DVD, Blu-ray, and 4k Ultra HD movies.

James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble, said of opening this location, "We are very pleased to remain in Old Orchard. Our booksellers have done an amazing job setting this new shop up in just three weeks. Westfield Old Orchard has been an exceptionally successful bookstore location which we look forward to improving upon further in this 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.

Having fallen below 600 locations as recently as 2023, it now has over 700 bookstores. In 2025, Barnes & Noble opened more new bookstores in a single year than it had in the whole decade from 2009 to 2019. The bookseller will open over 60 new bookstores in 2026.

The Skokie location is the first of four new Barnes & Noble bookstores set to open in Illinois this year. A new store in Hyde Park will open next month, with two other stores in Oak Park and State Street eagerly anticipated to open this summer.

"Since first opening at Old Orchard in October 1994, Barnes & Noble has been a beloved part of our center's story and a staple for generations," said Maegen Akers, General Manager of Westfield Old Orchard. "We're proud to welcome the brand into a newly expanded space at a pivotal moment for the center, as we continue our broader redevelopment efforts. This next chapter honors the legacy guests know and love while reinforcing Old Orchard's role as a vibrant, evolving destination for the community."

The design of the new Old Orchard store showcases the cozy shopping experience customers have come to expect of Barnes & Noble, one which encourages exploration and discovery in its many rooms throughout both levels. The new store will carry all the best books, as well as an expanded selection of paper and gifting items typically found at Barnes & Noble.

Sarah Kane, the Store Manager of both Old Orchard locations and a Barnes & Noble bookseller of 29 years, said, "We are thrilled to continue serving our Old Orchard community and excited to sustain and grow our book lovers here in Skokie. We eagerly await to welcome customers into our vibrant new space."

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

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