Barnes & Noble to open new store on Walt Whitman Road in Huntington Station

Barnes & Noble will open a new store in Huntington Station on March 26, with a ribbon cutting and book signing with Long Island author Tessa Bailey, the company announced Wednesday.

The new store will be located across from the Huntington Shopping Center on Walt Whitman Road, in the space formerly occupied by Johnson Fitness & Wellness.

The Huntington Station store arrives after the chain's East Northport store closed in January 2023.

"While we were saddened to leave East Northport, we could not be happier with the space we have found in Huntington," James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble, said in a press release. "Here we bring the community a completely updated Barnes & Noble and, fittingly, do so right next to the birthplace of one of the greatest American poets."

The new store is a short walk from the Walt Whitman Birthplace Museum, the early home of one of the most influential American poets and authors.

The book store chain is experiencing a resurgence in recent years, opening 60 new locations just last year, CNN reported. 

Daunt, who took over Barnes & Noble in 2018, told CNN in November the adoption of the indie bookstore model was the key to turning around the chain's performance. Foot traffic data for Barnes & Noble show that visits are up by 7% since 2019, according to location analytics company Placer.ai, CNN reported.

The ribbon cutting will take place at 9 a.m. on March 26. Bailey also will sign copies of her books, including the "Bellinger Sisters" series and her latest release, "Dream Girl Drama."