Barnes and Noble Will Close At End Of December

Unable to negotiate a new lease with the property holder, Pleasant Hill's last large book store will close by the end of December.

According to local media reports, the Barnes and Noble outlet will be replaced by Home Goods, a discount home-decor chain owned by the same parent company that runs Marshalls.

David Deason, vice president of development at Barnes & Noble, told the Contra Costa Times "The property owner has decided to lease the location to another retailer and was unwilling to work with us to extend our lease at the Pleasant Hill location."

Kelly Calhoun, economic development manager for Pleasant Hill, told the Times the city expects Home Goods to generate about seven times the sales tax revenue that Barnes & Noble did, as book buyers turn to the Internet more and more.

The Barnes and Noble in Walnut Creek will remain open.