ALEXANDRIA, VA — Barnes & Noble will open its second Alexandria bookstore on Wednesday as the nation's largest bookstore chain continues a resurgence that has seen dozens of new locations spring up across the country.
The new 13,000-square-foot store at 4515 Duke St. in the Shoppes at Foxchase joins the company's existing bookstore at Potomac Yard Shopping Center.
The grand opening begins at 10 a.m. Wednesday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring local novelist Bsrat Mezghebe, who will discuss and sign copies of her debut novel, "I Hope You Find What You're Looking For." The book follows three women in the Washington area's Eritrean community in 1991, as Eritrea approaches independence.
The bookstore will feature books, toys, games, magazines, vinyl records and gifts. Additional opening-day events include author appearances, with children's activities scheduled for the weekend.
The Alexandria opening comes amid a remarkable turnaround for Barnes & Noble, which spent more than 15 years reducing its number of stores as online retailers gained market share.
The chain had fewer than 600 stores in 2023 but has since grown to more than 700 locations. Barnes & Noble opened more bookstores in 2025 than it did during the entire decade from 2009 through 2019, according to the company.
Barnes & Noble plans to open more than 60 stores nationwide in 2026.
The new Foxchase store will offer grand-opening promotions, including discounts on NOOK devices and movies.
Residents can find upcoming events and additional information on the Barnes & Noble Foxchase website.
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