Barnes & Noble's new South Portland, Maine, store will officially open this coming Wednesday, May 22. The store is less than a mile from a revamped Books-A-Million. (See story below.)
At 10 a.m., children's author Ryan Higgins will cut the ribbon before signing copies of his books Mother Bruce and We Don't Eat Our Classmates (Disney Hyperion), among others. Located in the Maine Crossing shopping center at 200 Running Hill Rd., the new store spans 25,000 square feet and includes a cafe.
B&N CEO James Daunt said, "It is exciting to build a home for books in the retail capital of Maine, but even more to do so in a community that is saturated with students and educators that we are especially looking forward to serving."
The South Portland store is one of six new B&N locations to open this month, with locations set to open in Sandy, Utah, and Chicago, Ill., on May 29. The company plans open more than 50 new stores this year.