Email signup

After shuttering nine years ago, Barnes & Noble plots return to Reston

A new Barnes & Noble will take up space vacated by Office Depot last year (via Google Maps)

(Updated at 11:25 a.m.) Barnes & Noble is turning a page on its history at The Spectrum at Reston Town Center.

The company plans to open a location in the spring of 2023, 10 years after shuttering its location in the same shopping center at 11816 Spectrum Center. It will occupy nearly 28,000 square feet of space in the shell vacated by Office Depot. (Correction: The previous Barnes & Noble at The Spectrum closed in 2013, not 15 years ago as initially reported.)

“The tide has turned for real booksellers, with both Barnes & Noble and independent booksellers opening new stores at an unprecedented rate after well over a decade of declining numbers,” Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt said.  “The return of Barnes & Noble to Reston is emblematic of this success.  Further, we do so with the largest new bookstore to be opened anywhere in the United States in the last ten years.  It will be a very exciting bookstore.”

The Reston location will also include a BN Cafe.

“We are building exceptionally beautiful new bookstores and it will be dramatic to do so across 28,000 [square feet] in our new Reston store,” said Barnes & Noble Vice President of Stores Amy Fitzgerald. “The bookselling team is eager to return and get to work curating an exceptional bookstore.”

As the company readies to open its Reston location, locally owned bookstores like Scrawl Books in Reston Town Center continue to cement their place in Reston’s book scene.

Scrawl Books at least has no intention of going anywhere, owner Rachel Wood said in a statement to FFXnow:

We opened after the big box chains left, but we have no intention of closing now that they’re coming back. We live here and we’re committed to being here. Reston is full of engaged, passionate people who appreciate what only a local bookstore can provide. We’ll continue to support local schools and libraries, and we’ll continue to connect readers with great books and authors. Everyone who comes in the door knows they’ve found a cozy space run by real book lovers. We’ll be here in our community for a long time to come.

Office Depot closed in The Spectrum nearly one year ago.

Barnes & Noble currently has five locations in Fairfax County, including stores in Tysons Corner Center, Merrifield’s Mosaic District, Seven Corners, Springfield and Fair Lakes. There is also a store at One Loudoun in Ashburn.

Photo via Google Maps

Recent Stories

The push to rename Reston’s Shadowood Recreation Area has reached a new phase with the launch of an online survey. Reston Association announced on Wednesday (May 1) that it’s officially…

A D.C. developer is officially scuttling plans for City View, an office high-rise once expected to break ground near Tysons Galleria a decade ago. Four Points has asked Fairfax County…

Police arrested a Lorton man earlier this week in connection to a March 1 incident where he allegedly fired a gun at another rideshare passenger. According to the Fairfax County…

Morning Notes

School Bus Catches Fire in Reston — “#FairfaxsBravest are on scene of a school bus fire on SB Fairfax County Parkway at Fox Mill Road. The driver exited the bus prior…

The Blue Swallow Farm Foundation is holding an online auction to celebrate three years of helping students and educators in outdoor instruction. We invite you to participate in our online auction to support our mission of providing authentic, outdoor experiences for children. This event not only serves as a fundraiser for our initiatives but also as an opportunity for you to acquire unique items and experiences while making a positive difference in the lives of students and educators. You can preview auction items and then register as a bidder. Bidding will begin on May 4. The bids will close on May 8. Proceeds will assist us in helping educators build outdoor classrooms, developing high-quality curriculum materials and professional development workshops, sending teachers and students to environmental youth summits, and assessing the benefits of outdoor learning.

Submit your own Community Post here.

Pedal with Petals Family Bike Ride

Join us on Saturday, May 11th and ride into spring during our Pedal with Petals Family Bike Ride. Back for its second year, Pedal with Petals is going to be bigger than ever. This year’s event will include both an

Encore Creativity for Older Adults at Capital One Hall

Encore Creativity for Older Adults is pleased to raise the curtain and welcome community members to its spring concert at Capital One Hall in Tysons, VA on May 4, 2024. The concert, which starts at 3 PM, will bring hundreds

×

Subscribe to our mailing list