A new Barnes & Noble Store is gearing up to open at a historic bank building in Wicker Park. The global book retailer plans to open several Chicago locations in 2024 as part of a nationwide expansion.
Barnes & Noble will open at 1601 N Milwaukee Avenue on July 31, according to Block Club Chicago. The company opened an additional location in Lincoln Park in May, the first new location since its Webster Place outpost closed in 2023.
Janine Flanigan, Barnes & Noble's senior director of store planning and design, told Crain's in February that bookstores are an essential part of every community, and the company has sorely missed servicing the Chicago market.
The former Noel State Bank building is a designated city landmark known for its ornate art deco features. Walgreens previously leased the store before closing its doors in January of 2023. Under landmark preservation laws, tenants must preserve the buildings interior, according to Block Club Chicago.
Barnes & Noble currently operates another Chicago location, at the Depaul University Center in the Loop. The company has experienced a resurgence following years of decline during the 2010s.
According to NPR, new ownership and business strategy changes have allowed the company to embark on its largest national expansion in 30 years.
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