Barnes & Noble has announced plans to open a new bookstore in East Brunswick as part of the ongoing redevelopment of Brunswick Square Mall. The retailer’s long-standing location within the mall will close in January 2027, with the new store opening nearby approximately three weeks later.
The relocation marks the end of a 27-year run for the original East Brunswick location, which first opened its doors in 1999 during a period of rapid national expansion for the company.
“The redevelopment of the Brunswick Square Mall provides a fabulous opportunity for Barnes & Noble to create a new bookstore,” James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble said. “Our booksellers have enjoyed 27 very happy years in East Brunswick and are delighted to continue this tradition of bookselling in a new home of such scale and ambition.”
The move forms part of a broader revitalisation strategy under Daunt’s leadership. After dropping below 600 locations as recently as 2023, the national footprint of the bookseller has grown to encompass more than 730 stores nationwide, driven by 60 new store openings planned for 2026 alone.
New Jersey remains a core market for the company, hosting 22 locations across the state. The East Brunswick project represents the 7th relocation of an older New Jersey store designed to update store footprints and align with local retail redevelopments.
During the three-week transition period between the closure of the existing storefront and the ribbon-cutting at the new location, both sites will briefly remain closed. Barnes & Noble encourages local customers to visit neighboring locations during the interim:
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Barnes & Noble Menlo Park Mall: 55 Parsonage Rd, Edison, NJ 08837
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Barnes & Noble Freehold: 3981 US Hwy 9, Freehold, NJ 07728
The company confirmed that the existing store team will transition to the new location upon its opening in early 2027.
