Barnes & Noble Closing In Downtown Naperville

NAPERVILLE, IL — The Barnes & Noble store in downtown Naperville is closing its doors, the business announced Wednesday morning.

The retailer on East Chicago Avenue said in a letter posted on Instagram that the bookseller “must leave this store” but will move to “a new home” when the chain opens up its latest location next year in Oswego. The Naperville store’s last day in business will be Jan. 21.

“It has truly been our honor and privilege to be your bookseller in Naperville for the last 25 years,” the letter said. “While we’re saddened to vacate our current home, we are so excited to stay nearby and in a beautiful new bookstore.”

Barnes & Noble is taking over the former DSW shoe store at the Prairie Market Shopper Center in the 2500 block of Route 34 and plans to renovate 16,000 square feet of space.

“The new location offers us a huge opportunity to feature our highly lauded new store design,” the letter said.

Construction is tentatively scheduled to begin in January, with plans for a spring 2024 opening. Besides books, the Oswego store will sell games, toys and gifts. It will also feature a B&N Cafe.

Employees at the closing Naperville store will work at the company’s other locations in the interim and then move to the Oswego store, according to the letter.

Prior to the opening, customers can shop at Barnes & Noble's locations in Bolingbrook and Oakbrook.