Barnes & Noble Considering Return To Bethesda: Report

BETHESDA, MD — Barnes & Noble is looking to return to Bethesda after closing its store at Bethesda Row in January 2018.

A Barnes & Noble spokesperson told Robert Dyer @ Bethesda Row that the bookseller is “actively looking” for a location in the Bethesda area.

"We would love to be in that area," the spokesperson told Robert Dyer, who noted that many of Barnes & Noble's new stores are opening in former Amazon Books locations.

Amazon Books' store at Bethesda Row closed in March 2022. The Barnes & Noble spokesperson told Robert Dyer that the company has not signed a lease for the former Amazon Books space in Bethesda.

Last month, Barnes & Noble announced plans to open 30 stores in 2023. The expansion comes after years of closing stores in response to competition from Amazon.

At its peak in 2008, Barnes & Noble had 726 locations throughout the U.S., but now has 600, Book Riot reported. The new stores will be designed like independent bookstores and will encourage customers to linger, according to the report.