Barnes and Noble Opening

Barnes & Noble Returns to Brea With New 15,000 Square Foot Store, Drawing Massive Crowds

After years without a major bookstore in Brea, a new Barnes and Noble has finally decided to open a location in the city. On November 5, 2025, Barnes and Noble opened its latest location in Brea Plaza. More than 400 eager readers lined up there before the doors even opened, excited to have a nice place where they can buy books right in Brea.

Located at 439 S. Associated Road, the 15,000-square-foot bookstore is part of Barnes & Noble's national launch, which anticipates the opening of over 60 new stores this year. The store has carpeted aisles, leather-cushioned reading chairs, spacious browsing areas, and a comfortable interior. Although it no longer has an indoor café, which many customers found shocking, the bookstore is still doing well.

Local Readers Meet Their Favorite Authors on Opening Day

On opening day, local readers got to meet their favorite authors. Holly Goldberg Sloan, best-selling author of "Counting by 7s" and "To Night Owl From Dogfish," attended the ribbon-cutting ceremony. Chelsea Ichaso, who promoted her thriller "We Were Warned," and Sara Hashem, a young Muslim author of the bestselling book "The Jasad Heir," met eager fans and signed their books.

Locals finally get the bookstore they've been wanting for years

Many locals have expressed how happy they are because a bookstore opened in Brea. It's not just people who live in Brea; people have come from nearby, like Yorba Linda and Fullerton, who are happy that they don't have to drive all the way to Irvine to go to Barnes and Noble.

What does this change mean for Brea?

If you haven't already noticed, there are many new boba shops, bakeries, and store openings in Brea. Even the Brea Mall has started adding new stores like Zara, and UNIQLO, a Japanese clothing company, and they are even thinking about making their mall an outdoor mall. Many people have already said that Brea might even become the better, more affordable Irvine.

In conclusion, the new opening of Barnes and Nobles in Brea may seem like a small change, but really, it might be the beginning of so much more for Brea.

Written By: Zainub Amin

Edited By: Arya Sladen-Suarez