Barnes and Nobles soon planned to open up a new set of doors in September of 2024 at 301 Walt Whitman Road. The new location is 14,000 square feet and had originally been occupied by a fitness store along with other businesses. The location neighbors Walt Whitman’s birthplace property, placing it at the center of our Walt Whitman and Huntington community. The delay continued until February 26, 2025, when the store finally had their grand opening.

New York Times bestselling author Tessa Bailey assisted with the opening as her admirers waited with anticipation for her autograph. Bailey writes romance fiction and some of her more popular books include, Hook, Line, and Sinker and Unfortunately Yours. They were stocked on display among thousands of other books. 

The Whitman location is a maze of beautiful wooden bookshelves with various cozy seats around the areas, inviting browsers to take a moment to read the backflap of their next favorite book. Even the Starbucks Cafe has a modern twist to it, with brewing seasonal favorites and tables for people to chat or study. Along with the books, vinyl records, puzzles, board games, card games, home decor, and toys can all be found there. Walt Whitman student Samantha says that, “A very quiet and nice place to study”, while also enjoying the Starbucks Cafe in the store.