The long-awaited Barnes and Noble Carrollwood reopened Wednesday to enthusiastic crowds, marking the bookstore’s return to the north Tampa neighborhood after an eight-month absence.
Hundreds of people lined up outside the new location in the Palms of Carrollwood Shopping Center before the 10 a.m. ribbon cutting, eager to explore the bookstore that has been redesigned with a more open and modern layout.
“We are very pleased to be back in Carrollwood only eight months after closing our previous bookstore,” said James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble. “For 28 years we were a gathering place for this community, and our longtime booksellers are as eager to return as they are to welcome customers into their brand-new Barnes & Noble.”
The ceremonial ribbon was cut by New York Times bestselling authors Tony and Lauren Dungy, who signed copies of their books “Uncommon Influence” and “Uncommon Marriage” for fans. The line for the book signing wrapped around the interior of the store as readers waited to meet the former Tampa Bay Buccaneers head coach and his wife.
Children were particularly delighted by the appearance of Biscuit the Dog, a beloved character from the popular children’s book series by Alyssa Satin Capucilli. Young readers gathered around the costumed character for photos and storytime activities throughout the morning.
Store manager Matt Morse, a longtime Barnes & Noble employee, expressed his excitement about the reopening. “I am very excited to bring Barnes & Noble back to the Carrollwood community,” Morse said. “We can’t wait to welcome all our customers to our new bookstore.”
The new location at 13123 N. Dale Mabry Highway occupies the former Bed, Bath & Beyond space next to Petco. At nearly 36,000 square feet, the new store is larger than the previous 31,766-square-foot location that closed in August 2024.
The closure of the previous Carrollwood store ended a 28-year run at 11802 N. Dale Mabry Highway. According to a Barnes & Noble spokesperson, the move became necessary when the company was unable to renew its lease at the original location. That property was purchased by BayCare Health System for $10.5 million in November 2024, with plans to convert it into an urgent care facility.
The original Carrollwood store opened in August 1996, during a dramatically different era for bookselling. At that time, it was one of three national book chains within a quarter-mile radius, sharing the area with a Waldenbooks and a Borders Books and Music.
“We’re here because this is a great reading community,” a Borders store manager told the then St. Petersburg Times about the competition in 1996. “I think we can build on that and help each other out.”
Now, nearly three decades later, both Borders and Waldenbooks have disappeared, while Barnes & Noble has entered a period of expansion. After years of declining store numbers, the company opened 31 new bookstores in 2023 and 38 in 2024, with plans to open over 60 new locations by the end of 2025.
The Tampa location is one of four new Barnes & Noble bookstores opening in April, alongside new stores in Illinois, Nebraska, and New York.
With its B&N Café, expanded book selection, and dedicated areas for toys, games, vinyl records, and gifts, the new Carrollwood store aims to continue serving as a community gathering place for Tampa’s readers.