Barnes & Nobles Opening New Walnut Creek Store

WALNUT CREEK, CA — Barnes & Noble announced the opening of a new bookstore in Walnut Creek in the East Bay. The new bookstore marks the return of the bookseller to Walnut Creek after its closure in 2016.

The new store is at 1192 Locust Street on a prominent corner site at Plaza Escuela in the former Forever 21 location, Barnes & Noble announced Wednesday in a news release.

Nina LaCour, best-selling author of "Yerba Buena: A Novel," will open the store in a ribbon-cutting ceremony and book signing at 9 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 7.

"We are very pleased to bring our bookstore back to Walnut Creek," said James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble. "Over the years so many bookstores, including many of our own, were forced to close their doors. It is wonderful now that an appreciation of good bookstores and an enthusiasm for reading is bringing a renaissance in bookselling. This will be a beautiful store, with a fabulous team of booksellers led by Allison Osborn. We thank the Walnut Creek community for the warm welcome with which they have greeted our return."

The opening of the new Barnes & Noble follows the exit of Amazon Books from Walnut Creek with the shuttering of all Amazon bookstores. The new store will carry an extensive range of books, as well as the usual strong offering of journals and greeting cards, together with educational toys and games.

"We’re incredibly excited to connect with readers in Walnut Creek and introduce them to this great bookstore we have created," said store manager Allison Osborn. "It is to be so well stocked and with a brilliant program of store events, starting with our opening by Nina LaCour. Barnes & Noble will be a lively addition to the existing community events, with street fairs, art festivals and children’s activities, all held right on the store’s street front. There has been an absolutely overwhelming amount of positive feedback from our future customers who have already taken to social media to show their support!"

Customers can follow updates online and on social media @bnwalnutcreekca.