Barnes and Noble to close another Bay Area store after 33 years - SFGATE

What the report says

SFGate reports that Barnes and Noble is preparing to close its longtime Redwood City store at 1091 El Camino Real after 33 years in business. An employee confirmed to the outlet that the store is scheduled to close Sept. 16 and said workers will be allowed to apply for positions at nearby locations. The San Francisco Business Times first reported the development.

According to SFGate, Barnes and Noble CEO James Daunt told the Business Times that the company regretted the Redwood City closure and attributed it to the end of the store’s lease. The Redwood City store’s voicemail did not provide additional details, though it mentioned upcoming sales on most store merchandise.

The closure follows the May shutdown of Barnes and Noble’s San Bruno store at the Shops at Tanforan, a mall slated for demolition. At the same time, the chain is expanding elsewhere in the Bay Area: SFGate reports that new locations are planned in Cupertino, at 20740 Stevens Creek Blvd., and at Fremont’s Pacific Commons shopping center, with both expected later this year.

The changes come amid broader growth for the bookstore chain. SFGate cites company figures showing Barnes and Noble had 712 U.S. stores in June, up from just under 600 in 2023, and plans 60 new stores nationwide by year’s end, including five in California. Existing Bay Area stores include locations in Emeryville, Walnut Creek, Concord, Corte Madera, Burlingame, San Mateo, Dublin, Brentwood, Fairfield, Napa and Los Gatos.