Barnes & Noble is set to open Chicago’s largest store in the Loop this summer, occupying a 30,000-square-foot space at 150 North State Street, previously home to an Old Navy. This new store is part of a series of expansions, with four new locations planned in the Chicago area this year, including stores in Hyde Park and Skokie.
The Loop store aims to revitalize the State Street commercial corridor, which has seen high vacancy rates due to the pandemic. While the opening is welcomed by some, others express concerns about its impact on local independent bookstores, particularly following the recent closure of Volumes Book Cafe in Wicker Park, which attributed its decline in sales to the opening of Barnes & Noble nearby.
Hyde Park leaders are advocating for support of local businesses as Barnes & Noble prepares to enter the neighborhood, emphasizing the importance of independent stores like Powell’s and 57th Street Books.
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