WALNUT CREEK — The Barnes and Noble bookstore on South Main Street has closed, seemingly another victim of the city’s hugely successful commercial district and the soaring costs of leasing space there.
A sign on the door thanks patrons and suggests visiting its other East Bay stores. It has outlets in Dublin, Antioch, El Cerrito and Emeryville. A few small independent book sellers remain in central county and the San Ramon Valley.
Barnes & Noble had a prime location at S. Main Street and Olympic Boulevard across from Broadway Plaza.
The company had warned in June that it was unable to negotiate a long-term extension of its lease, and that remained true.
“Unfortunately we were unable to come to an agreement,” David Deason, vice president of development, said in an emailed statement.
Deason said the store was searching for a new site in or near Walnut Creek.
“We expect to have a new store in the area in the future,” he said.
That’s a tough search in this area, the city’s Chamber of Commerce CEO said Thursday.
“Everyone seems to think they’re still looking,” said Jay Hoyer. But they need a big space — maybe 30,000 square feet with parking, he said.
“That’s kind of kind of difficult to come by in Walnut Creek market with those kind of rents,” he said.
Contact Andrew McGall at 925-945-4703.