The grand opening comes during a time of tremendous growth for the book retailer and is a welcome addition to a landmarked space that has sat vacant for months.
During the 2010s, Barnes & Noble shuttered dozens of locations nationwide and came close to collapsing. However, a recent strategy shift and new ownership have seen the company’s sales rise significantly in recent years, according to a 2023 report from NPR.
In May of this year, Barnes & Noble opened an additional location in Lincoln Park at 651 W. Diversey Parkway, after closing its former Webster Place location in 2023. Barnes & Noble also operates one other location in Chicago at the DePaul University Center in the Loop.
The Noel State Bank building is well known for its elaborate art deco interior. A Walgreens previously occupied the space and became locally famous for its unique “Vitamin Vault,” a repurposed bank feature.
According to a statement from Barnes & Noble, the book retailer has worked to maintain the building’s magnificent features.
“We open what is now one of the most beautiful bookstores anywhere in the world,” said James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble.
“Its architects in 1919 described it as the dernier cri in bank architecture and indeed only bankers could have thought to build something so ornate. A little over a century later, we booksellers are thrilled to be the beneficiaries.”
Barnes & Noble will host a grand opening ceremony at the new location at 10 a.m. Wednesday. The public event will include a ribbon cutting and a subsequent book signing by best-selling author Jeneva Rose.