Barnes & Noble opens new Kalispell store on Jan. 31
Barnes & Noble is set to open Jan. 31 in the former Pier 1 store in north Kalispell. (Heidi Desch/Daily Inter Lake)
The new Barnes & Noble bookstore is opening in Kalispell on Wednesday, Jan. 31.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony takes place at 9 a.m. at the store in the Mountain View Plaza on U.S. 93. The store next to Famous Footwear is in the building formerly occupied by Pier 1.
Author Katie Powner will cut the ribbon opening the store and hold a book signing.
The new location showcases the highly lauded bookstore design seen in the most recent Barnes & Noble store openings, housing all the best books, toys, games and gifts, according to a release from the company.
“The positive feedback we have received since announcing this new Barnes & Noble has been astounding,” said James Daunt, CEO, Barnes & Noble. “It has been a long time since Borders had their bookstore just across the parking lot and it is a particular pleasure to bring a major new bookstore back to U.S. 93. Our ability to open beautiful new bookstores of this scale is testament to the enduring appeal of bookstores, and to the success of our strategy to empower our local store teams to localize their bookstores.”
The Kalispell Borders bookstore closed in 2011 after the national bookstore chain went bankrupt.
Barne & Noble enjoys strong sales in its existing stores and has been opening many new stores after over 15 years of declining store numbers, according to a release. In 2023, Barnes & Noble opened more new bookstores in a single year than in the decade from 2009 to 2019. The bookseller expects to open over 50 new bookstores in 2024.
“I’m honored to help bring Barnes & Noble to the Flathead Valley,” said store manager Daniel Urquidi, a Barnes & Noble bookseller of 10 years. “Our booksellers have been happily hard at work setting up displays and curating our selection to the tastes of our community.”
Other Barnes & Noble locations in Montana include Missoula, Bozeman, Great Falls and Billings.