Barn Plaza Shopping Center in Doylestown Township is getting a new tenant next year when Barnes & Noble Booksellers plans to open next to the much-anticipated Whole Foods Market, the center confirmed.
The national bookseller is leasing more than 11,000-square-feet, alongside grocer Whole Foods, which is currently under construction in the former site of Marshalls HomeGoods, said Maria Pace, a spokeswoman for Brixmor Property Group, which owns the shopping center.
“We anticipate the addition of Barnes & Noble will achieve several significant outcomes,” said Pace, in a statement. “It will attract a diverse customer base, create job opportunities, and increase foot traffic for our current tenants. Additionally, bookstores like Barnes & Noble are known for creating inviting environments that foster community engagement.”
No opening date has been announced, Pace said, although it’s expected to be in the fall of 2024.
Other businesses in the plaza, which faces Route 611 and is just a few miles from Doylestown Borough, include Kohl’s, Gerhard’s Appliances, Piccolo Trattoria and Mattress Firm, among others.
The center has undergone major changes this year. Its anchor for decades, the multiplex Barn Cinema, closed in February, followed by the closing of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill + Bar in May. A Starbucks there remains empty after several years.
Speculation over what’s next for the 50,000-square-foot movie theater property is ongoing with nothing definitive yet known.
Pace said only, “We’re also expecting updates on the former movie theatre in the months ahead and look forward to sharing that information with you.”
As for the other vacant locations, she said, “We are working with a dynamic group of national and regional retailers for the former Starbucks and Applebee’s sites and look forward to sharing retailer names once leases are finalized.”
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