A final chapter with a not-so-happy ending is being written at an El Cerrito shopping center this week.
The Barnes & Noble bookstore in El Cerrito Plaza will permanently close Sunday after 22 years.
The lease for the popular bookstore ends on Jan. 31. Employees will spend the rest of the month packing up inventory.
“We regret to confirm the closure of the El Cerrito Barnes & Noble bookstore located in El Cerrito Plaza,” a press release from the company states. “We have truly loved serving this community for the past 22 years. We greatly appreciate the loyalty and support of our customers over this time.”
Janine Flanigan, vice president of store planning and design at Barnes & Noble, told Richmondside in September that the company “didn’t have the opportunity to renew our lease” in El Cerrito. She didn’t specify why.
The store has a location in Emeryville.
independent bookstore in richmond
According to the company, it has more than 650 stores in the United States. It stated that it opened more stores in 2024 than it had between 2009 and 2019. The company plans to open more than 60 bookstores in 2025.
The El Cerrito store employs nearly two dozen people.
Jim Araby, the director of strategic campaigns for the United Food and Commercial Workers Local 5, the union that represents the employees, told Richmondside the union negotiatde a severance package that provides the workers with a lump sum based on their years of employment.
Employees who are willing to delay their severance payment can join a list to be considered for job openings at the Emeryville store in the next six months.
Employees can also choose to be considered for a job if Barnes & Noble opens a new store within five miles of the former El Cerrito location during the next year.
The El Cerrito closure leaves west Contra Costa County without a large dedicated chain bookstore.
Disappointed customers scoop up last few books at steep discounts
On Tuesday, about half of the shopping area had been taped off with most bookshelves empty and the remaining items marked 75% off, including goods such as gift cards, Halloween decor and furniture.
Customers leaving the store expressed dismay at the impending closure. Many weren’t aware the book shop was closing until they went inside and saw the cordoned-off areas.
One man who didn’t want to give his name said he purchased three books at 75% off. He said he has been visiting the store about once a month for the past several years.
“I didn’t know it was closing,” he said. “It’s sad to see it go.”
An 83-year-old retired teacher who didn’t give her name expressed her disappointment as she entered the store.
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“I love this store. I’m heartbroken to see it close,”
— Longtime Barnes & Noble customer
“I love this store. I’m heartbroken to see it close,” she said, saying she visited weekly.
Charley Robinson of Berkeley said he would visit about once a month.
“I love books, and I love wandering around the store,” Robinson said.
He said he hopes this particular closure isn’t a sign of “further erosion” of the book industry.
Tonyette Smith-Al-Ghani of Richmond also said visited the store about once a month.
She said she will probably go to the Emeryville location because she loves to browse through books.
She said she worries about the impact the closure might have on children in nearby neighborhoods who will no longer have a large bookstore close by.
“It’s sad,” she said.
I loved this bookstore myself since I was a teenager and everyone who got in line to get Harry Potter books