Bookworms rejoice: the beloved Barnes & Noble store in Park Slope reopened on Wednesday after a four-month renovation.
Employees cut the ribbon at the 7th Avenue store on Nov. 12 alongside local author Ann Napolitano, welcoming readers back to the sprawling literary haven with a book signing.
The 23,500-square-foot store — one of the largest in New York City — opened back in 1997 and was “a little overdue for a refresh.” Renovations took a little longer than expected, having begun back in July, but were well worth it, according to Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt.
“The Park Slope bookstore has undergone a total renovation and [restored] the building to its proper glory,” Daunt said in a statement. “It is very good news to secure the future of this wonderful bookstore.”
Outside, the store looks the same as it has for nearly 30 years. The interior, though, has been re-designed with the fresh, modern design Barnes & Noble has rolled out over the last several years, with a few Park Slope twists. The store’s green ceiling lights and large columns remain, and baristas are still slinging drinks in the refreshed, modernized café.
Most notably, the kids’ section has been totally renovated and expanded, offering plenty of books, games and toys for young readers.
“The store is transformed and I am especially pleased with the huge new kids department we have created,” said store manager Ikwo Ntekim, in a statement. “All on the team of booksellers and baristas look forward to welcoming our customers back to Park Slope’s Barnes & Noble.”
After a downturn in the 2010s, Barnes & Noble has seen a resurgence in the past few years, and in 2024 opened more new bookstores than it had in the ten-year period from 2009-2019. Though it has closed a few locations in the area, the book giant has been particularly successful in New York City, home to its Union Square flagship and three other stores, including in Park Slope.
“We are very lucky in New York City to retain really large bookstores, with our own four and also The Strand, when most metropolitan cities have lost theirs,” Daunt said.
Brooklyn in particular is a haven for bookstores, with two Barnes & Noble locations in Park Slope and Cobble Hill. The Park Slope shop has historically been one of the company’s most successful, and the Cobble Hill location is thriving, too, having relocated to the former Barney’s store on Atlantic Avenue after 20 years on Court Street.
In 2023, employees at the Park Slope store voted to unionize. Earlier this year, they won their first contract.
The borough also has a thriving indie bookstore community, with beloved staples like Books Are Magic, Greenlight Bookstore, Powerhouse and Quimby’s as well as some niche newcomers, like romance bookstore The Ripped Bodice and brand-new horror shop The Twisted Spine.
The Park Slope Barnes & Noble, located at 267 7th Ave., is open seven days a week, Monday-Friday 8 a.m.-8 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.-8 p.m., and Sunday 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
