Another Bay Area staple storefront shutters after 33 years

Another beloved Bay Area store has bitten the dust after over 30 years in business. 

Barnes & Noble is set to close its beloved Redwood City bookstore, with the El Camino Real location shutting its doors on September 16. 

‘We much lament this closure in Redwood City, the difficulty of which is heightened by the suddenness with which we are obliged to close,’ CEO James Daunt told the San Francisco Business Times. 

‘Happily, we welcome two new stores to the Bay Area this year, allowing us to continue to serve this book-loving community,’ he added.

As of June, Barnes and Noble has about 712 bookstores nationwide compared to just under 600 stores in 2023. As the company continues to expand, the Bay Area closure comes as a surprise to some locals – especially because the chain plans to open five new locations in California in the coming months.

With a planned Cupertino store in the works, just a 25-minute drive from the Redwood City storefront, some are interpreting this closure more as a relocation than abandoning the area altogether.

‘Sounds like their lease was ended not by their choice and they’re actually adding to their store footprint nationally,’ one Reddit user wrote.

The Bay Area shopping complex is also home to a Jamba Juice, Starbucks, Verizon store and Habit Burger & Grill – all of which will remain open for the time being. 

Barnes and Noble in Union Square in New York is one of the bookseller’s largest locations

For others, though, the closure means more driving and less convenience to get to their favorite bookstore. Some took to social media, sharing their thoughts on the announcement.

‘It’s absolutely crazy that the big bookstore that put all the mom and pop bookstores out of business is now facing the same fate,’ one Reddit user said. ‘Whenever I see a small local bookstore, I stop in and buy something.’

‘I’ve been there,’ another wrote. ‘I love bookstores, just sad to see them fall.’

Other Reddit users mentioned the independent bookstore, Fireside Books, is just a four-minute drive from the Barnes & Noble. Some suggested shopping there instead to support small businesses.

‘Now more customers for Fireside Books in downtown Redwood City,’ one fan wrote, while another added, ‘Be sure to check out Fireside Books just across the train track.’ 

According to SFGate, the Redwood City location’s recorded voicemail message does not mention the store closure, but claims there will be ‘some exciting sales of almost everything in the store.’

Fans on social media claim discounts have already hit the store, with some books discounted to 40 percent off as the retailer prepares to close its doors later this year. 

This wouldn’t be the only Barnes and Nobles location forced to shut its doors. 

The Shops at Tanforan in San Bruno, California, currently have a Barnes & Noble location, but it will close by May 2026.

Tourists stunned by decline of once-glamorous California mall now lined with empty stores

In March, the bookstore chain announced it will close its branch in the Shops at Tanforan – a California mall that just last year was slammed with the closure of another staple, JCPenney. 

In fact, only a few stores remain open at the Shops at Tanforan, including a jeweler, a bridal shop and a cell phone store. 

There’s still a Target and Starbucks at the mall, as well as a Chipotle in the food court. 

The San Bruno storefront was at this location for more than 20 years, while the mall itself originally opening in the 1970s, and has since fallen into disarray according to shoppers. 

There is another Barnes & Noble location located in Emeryville – about a 30 minute drive from San Bruno. There are also more niche bookstores located nearby, including San Francisco’s Dog Eared Books and City Lights Booksellers & Publishers.