Barnes &Noble to locate new store in Brentwood

Nearly 20 years after establishing its only large bookstore in East Contra Costa at Antioch’s Slatten Ranch, the store will be moving a short distance to a Brentwood location of similar size. The Streets of Brentwood shopping complex, a mere 1.5 miles from the previous site, has a prime anchor spot that REI vacated in 2014, five years after opening. Jim Shepherd, the broker for Slatten Ranch shopping center, views the move positively, noting Barnes & Noble’s commitment to the market and the importance of a large bookstore in the area.

Barnes & Noble spokesperson Deborah Hanks has confirmed that the relocation is scheduled for early fall. The decision was prompted by the end of the lease in Antioch and the opportunity to modernize with a new layout and design in Brentwood. The incoming 21,000 square foot Sand Creek Road store will feature various themed “rooms” for different topics or genres, each formed with bookcases, and will also include a café.

This innovative setup aims to encourage browsing and a smooth transition between rooms dedicated to interrelated subject categories, Hanks explained. She added that each store now curates its selection based on local customer preferences, taking into account the specific market and store size.

Janine Flanigan, another Barnes & Noble spokesperson, expressed her excitement about moving to a new area and implementing the new design, echoing that of the Walnut Creek store opened in 2022. She revealed that 31 other locations debuted the new format in 2023 and that the company plans to introduce it at 50 more locations this year. Flanigan anticipates that the Brentwood store with its light-colored theme will be stunning and assures that all Antioch employees will be offered positions there. The current Antioch store will operate until the Brentwood location is ready to launch.

According to Assistant Brentwood City Manager Darin Gale, the city learned about the search for a new location last year and views it as a considerable boost for Brentwood. City Manager Tim Ogden and his economic development team contributed to finding a new occupant for the empty shopping center site. Gale regards Barnes & Noble as an asset to Streets of Brentwood shopping center, which has limited spaces left, and expects it to draw more customers to the center’s smaller enterprises.

Gale observes that although bookstores are not generally expanding, Brentwood’s demographic features — highly educated residents and a higher than average disposable income — are attracting prominent retailers. Despite this move, the Antioch location had held up well, says Antioch’s Acting City Manager Kwame Reed, highlighting the many considerations in relocation decisions, from lease expirations to more beneficial opportunities elsewhere.

Slatten Ranch’s broker reports significant interest from other businesses in the soon-to-be-vacant 23,000 square foot site. Shepherd considers the Lone Tree Way/bypass area around Slatten Ranch — surrounded by major retailers within a two-mile radius — to possess a robust retail synergy. He remains confident in the Brentwood/Antioch market, which continues to generate substantial interest.