Barnes & Noble will soon occupy a former Party City location in Melbourne, Florida, following the latter’s closure after 40 years in business. This move highlights the ongoing shift in the retail landscape as Party City ceased operations in 2025, following two bankruptcy filings, first in January 2023 and again in December 2024.
Located southeast of Orlando, the new Barnes & Noble store will feature a café serving Starbucks beverages, although customers will not be able to use Starbucks rewards or apps within the café. The store will occupy over 23,000 square feet and is relocating less than half a mile from its current site in West Melbourne. According to the Orlando Business Journal, the new store will be situated alongside other retailers such as Aldi, Five Below, and Planet Fitness.
Barnes & Noble operates over 700 locations across the United States, with 50 in Florida. The company recently announced ambitious plans to open more than 60 new locations in 2025, surpassing its record of 57 stores established in 2024. In April, the bookstore launched four new outlets in Naperville, Illinois, New York, Florida, and Nebraska.
While the Melbourne location marks a significant transition for Barnes & Noble, there is also a proposal for the current Barnes & Noble site to be transformed into a Chick-fil-A. Should the plan receive approval, construction on the fast-food restaurant would begin on March 30, 2025. Officials estimate that it will take approximately six months to complete the development, which involves demolishing the existing building to construct a new restaurant spanning over 4,800 square feet.
A spokesperson for Chick-fil-A expressed interest in expanding in the Melbourne area, stating, “We are always evaluating potential new locations in the hopes of serving existing and new guests great food with remarkable service.” However, they noted that there are no confirmed new locations at this time.
As Barnes & Noble prepares for its move, the future of retail in Melbourne continues to evolve, reflecting broader trends in consumer preferences and shopping experiences. Further updates are expected as both the bookstore’s opening and the potential Chick-fil-A development progress.
