Barnes & Noble delays opening of new South Huntington store

The new Barnes & Noble in South Huntington is scheduled to open on April 2, after being delayed a week due to wha t the company called "unexpected permitting issues."

The store had been set to open this Wednesday.

Town of Huntington spokesperson Christine Geed  said on Friday the store was awaiting approval for a fire alarm permit.

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

Wednesday's ribbon cutting was to have featured Long Island author Tessa Bailey signing copies of her books, including the "Bellinger Sisters" series and her latest release, "Dream Girl Drama." Janine Flanigan, vice president of store planning and design, said that Bailey will be present on the new opening date.

Flanigan said on Friday that in addition to awaiting a fire alarm permit, the construction team was working to properly pave the parking lot.

"We just weren't ready," Flanigan said. "We want to make sure that we're delivering our customers the best experience possible."

The store has two parking lots, one directly on Route 110, which holds about 10 to 15 cars, and a larger one behind the store, which will be used as the main lot. 

The larger lot is shared with another storefront that doesn't have a tenant, Flanigan said. 

The store's interior includes the chain's new open-concept design that features rooms rather than aisles, she added. 

The Huntington Station site arrives after the chain closed its East Northport store in January 2024. The chain has been experiencing a resurgence in recent years, opening dozens of new locations in 2024, CNN reported.