Barnes & Noble has officially confirmed plans to launch a new bookstore location in Stillwater this June, marking the latest expansion in the chain’s nationwide growth strategy.

A company representative verified the opening timeline, revealing that the retail space will occupy 15,000 square feet at Bradford Plaza, located at 519 N. Main St.

Janine Flanigan, vice president of store design for Barnes & Noble, expressed enthusiasm about the forthcoming location in correspondence with local media.

The retail space set to house the new bookstore previously served as home to JoAnn Fabrics and Crafts, which shuttered operations in February 2025 during the national craft retailer’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings.

National Expansion Pattern

The Stillwater location represents part of a broader revitalization effort by Barnes & Noble, which has experienced a remarkable turnaround after years of contraction.

According to reporting by USA Today in November 2025, the bookseller has charted an ambitious expansion course following nearly twenty years of shrinking retail presence. The company announced intentions to establish 60 new stores nationwide throughout 2026, building on momentum from multiple openings completed in 2025.

In a statement provided to USA Today, company representatives highlighted the success of their localized approach to bookselling.

“Barnes & Noble is enjoying a period of tremendous growth as the strategy to hand control of each bookstore to its local booksellers has proven so successful,” the statement read. “In 2024, Barnes & Noble opened more new bookstores in a single year than it had in the whole decade from 2009 to 2019.”

What This Means for Stillwater

The arrival of Barnes & Noble fills a significant retail vacancy at Bradford Plaza while bringing a cultural anchor to the North Main Street corridor. The combination of traditional bookstore offerings with an integrated Starbucks café creates a community gathering space that has become increasingly rare in an era of online retail dominance.

The store’s implementation of Barnes & Noble’s “new design” concept suggests Stillwater shoppers can expect a contemporary retail environment optimized for both book browsing and café socializing—a format the chain has refined through recent openings across the country.

With the June target date now confirmed, preparations for the store opening are expected to accelerate in the coming months as the company finalizes staffing, inventory planning, and interior buildout at the Bradford Plaza location.