Iconic Barnes & Noble Bookstores set to close amid redevelopment and retail shake-up, even as chain pushes national expansion

Barnes & Noble is closing two long-standing bookstores in New York and Florida, marking the end of an era for communities that have relied on the chain as cultural gathering spaces, even as the bookseller pushes ahead with an aggressive national expansion.

In New York’s Rockland County, one of just two Barnes & Noble locations will permanently shut its doors on January 18, bringing an end to the store’s 33-year presence. The large-format bookstore, located on Route 59 at Rockland Plaza in Nanuet, will leave the county with only one remaining Barnes & Noble, at the Palisades Center in West Nyack, alongside a small number of independent booksellers.

An employee confirmed the closure, saying the store was unable to renew its lease. According to the Sun website, Rockland Plaza is owned by Brixmor Property Group. The closure follows the earlier shutdown of Barnes & Noble’s City Center store in White Plains.


The closures of long-standing Barnes & Noble stores highlight the accelerating decline of big-box bookstores as online shopping and changing consumer habits reshape retail.

The comeback

The closure comes even as Barnes & Noble stages a significant comeback. After opening 67 stores in 2025 and 61 in 2024, the company is set to add 60 more in 2026, marking a reversal of a two-decade slide fueled by online rivals such as Amazon and shifting consumer behavior. The new stores will feature cozier layouts with themed nooks, alongside a partnership with A24 and the integration of Books Inc.

The company operates about 600 stores, sells more than 190 million books a year, and was taken private in 2019 by Elliott Advisors after going public in 1993.

Industry watchers are speculating about a possible return to the stock market. Barnes & Noble previously considered downsizing the location during the coronavirus pandemic.

The chain opened new stores in Miami’s Colonial Palms Plaza, Kendall’s Town & Country, and Naples.

Redevelopment of Rockland Plaza

Brixmor is planning a sweeping redevelopment of Rockland Plaza, carving large retail spaces into smaller units, adding restaurants and modernizing the site. The plans include demolishing part of the former Modell’s building, subdividing Petco, adding a drive-thru bank and constructing a free-standing restaurant.

Meanwhile, the county’s last Barnes & Noble at the Palisades Centre faces an uncertain future despite new ownership of the mall’s debt.

Another closure

Retail experts say big-box store closures are accelerating as online shopping reshapes malls and strip centers. Barnes & Noble Pembroke Gardens in Pembroke Pines will close on January 18, 2026, after nearly 20 years.

“It is with great sadness that we confirm the closure of this Barnes & Noble bookstore, as our lease has ended,” the store said on Instagram.

The closure follows September’s West Kendall shutdown, though new stores have offered some relief. Barnes & Noble Sunset Place faces further uncertainty as the mostly vacant South Miami mall is set for demolition, with plans for a “foodie mecca” raising survival concerns.