This is one of my favorite Barnes & Noble locations to visit when I'm in Walnut Creek. The store is very spacious with a great selection of books. I really like that the lower level is mostly dedicated to kids and teens, but also includes a large selection of vinyl records, CDs, DVDs, and movies. There's even a cute little choo-choo train where kids can sit and read, which is such a nice touch. The store has two entrances and two separate checkout areas, which helps a lot on busier days. Service is always good, and the staff is consistently helpful when it comes to searching for specific books. A well-organized, welcoming location that I always enjoy stopping into. read more

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This visit was a lot better than our last. On a drizzly, Monday evening, not very many visitors and we were able to breathe and enjoy the books in each section. The kids area was quiet with just a few parents/grandparents reading to their kids, young adult section had a few making selections and the front upper section of the store were sporadic visitors selecting books of their choice. The place was clean and the young lady greeted us upon entrance. Definite plus since the last time. As always, there's a sale and specials, we purchased more books again! This was a successful visit and I can recommend coming here during this time. read more

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I had a very disappointing experience at this Barnes & Noble location. I met a friend at the store to discuss a book that I was planning to purchase. I moved a single chair so that we could sit together while looking through the book. Shortly afterward, the manager approached me and told me that I was not allowed to move the store's furniture and moved the chair back. I was surprised by both the interaction and the way it was handled. Afterward, I asked the cashier why this was a problem, and I was told that children had broken chairs in the past. While I understand that stores need policies to protect their property, I don't understand why I was treated as though I would damage the furniture. As a middle-aged teacher, I found it discouraging to be spoken to in a way that felt more like a reprimand than a respectful conversation. A simple explanation such as, "I'm sorry, but we ask customers not to move the chairs because we've had damage in the past," would have been courteous and understandable. Instead, I left feeling embarrassed and unwelcome. I've always appreciated Barnes & Noble as a place where people can browse books, learn, and share ideas. This experience fell far short of that expectation. I hope management will remind employees that enforcing store policies can be done with kindness and respect. Customer service is not just about following rules--it's also about making customers feel valued. Unfortunately, this experience has made me think twice about returning to this location. I have been a customer for over 20 years. I might have to find somewhere else to spend my money and refer others too. :( read more

Surprisingly good selection of books in the cultural history section. All the workers are really fun and have a good attitude. Always super helpful and knowledgeable. I love this branch. read more

December 2025 For old school people like me who still read books this place is like one of those 1990's thungs I grew up with. My friends and I would drive to Barnes and Nobles and just chill looking through the magazines and books or Anime. It's neat to see one still standing and we'll stocked ans clean. Brings back old memories. read more

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This one is in Walnut Creek. I think it's the same set up as other Barnes and Nobles but this one is not a big as the one in Brentwood but still beautiful. There are places to sit and chill or read a book which I love. Can't go wrong with a Barnes and Noble. read more

Barnes & Noble - Bookstores Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I was around the area and wanted to look for new books to buy and a store to hang out in. This is probably the smallest B&N I've been to. But it's a nice n neat place. Clean, nice service, organized. Even tho it's small I wish there are more B&N stores everywhere. read more

I have worked with this store quite a bit for personal and corporate orders. Mak and Claud ( or Cloud) are so helpful and friendly. I appreciate how they go above beyond for even the smallest request. read more

My happy place. I like paper books as opposed to reading on my reader. I am old school in this regard. I love coming here and perusing books. Yes, you can buy them cheaper online but it's different when you are here and get the overall book perusing and buying experience. Do support them! read more

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Before I was upset about what I had bought and how it was more expensive plus a bit damaged like used, but now I realize it is okay since I had great online customer service when I called to see if I could exchange the item. They said only if it's damaged or broken. I was able to exchange it even if the wrapper was off. Also the service in-person is very helpful and inside it was clean too. read more

Barnes & Noble - Photcards - Bookstores Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

This isn't a B&N that I frequent, but when I'm in the area, I like to stop by to see what they have in stock. During my last visit, my best friend found the last two signed hard copies of Done and Dusted, and we just had to get them! She also found a signed copy of Jojo's recently released memoir, but I had to stop myself from buying since I already have a physical copy. I'm usually shopping the romance section, which is pretty small here compared to other stores. But it's always nice, clean, and organized, so really no complaints. I'm just sad that they don't have an annex section. I love me a discounted coloring book, word search, or sticker book add-on! Lol. The kids/young adult section + games and other entertainment is separated into another section of the store, just going down a couple of steps. It's pretty spacious, and I always see a lot of kids and their parents shopping there. The service is always quick and friendly at check out. Don't really see too many people working on the floor, just mostly at the cash register. But anytime I have needed help, they're happy to stop what they're doing and give me a hand! Will definitely continue to stop by here when I'm shopping in Walnut Creek! read more

Barnes & Noble - Bookstores Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

amazing stuff and they have great collection of books. definitely worth stopping by and get something. read more

Barnes & Noble - Bookstores Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

I love Barnes & Noble So many great books Also, toys games available I wish they would put one in Rohnert Park's new downtown read more

This Barnes & Noble Bookstore was great!! I came here during the Holidays, so it was good and crowded. Plenty of books and gifts for readers here as well as games and puzzles. A very clean and organized store, and the line moved pretty quickly, even though it was long. I did like how they had multiple tables set up with books with different genres. It definitely made me stop and look. Located right on the corner in Downtown Walnut Creek, a prime location!! read more

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I enjoy coming to this Barnes & Noble because the shelves/tables are always so nicely organized in a way that makes it easy for me to find my next book. The booksellers are friendly and always welcoming as well. My 2 biggest issues with this B&N location: the lack of seating and the dirtiness of the restrooms. In terms of seating, over the last year, the number of seats in the store have declined pretty significantly. Back in November of 2023, there were 6 cushioned seats and 2 benches. There were plenty of seats for customers, which made the place feel welcoming. Fast forward to November of 2024, there are 2 cushioned seats left and no benches at all. No idea where the seats and benches went, but they're no longer around. It's unfortunate--I have found myself spending less time here due to this change. As for the restrooms, they are almost never clean. Toilet paper and used paper towels are all over the ground, the toilet is not clean, and the trash can right below the paper towel dispenser is sometimes so full that the dirty paper towels in the trash are pretty much touching the new paper towels above. The restrooms have locks on them, but I'm not even sure why that is necessary since the restrooms look worse than some regular public restrooms sometimes. This B&N location is great on the books front but some things can still be improved to better the average customer experience. read more

Well curated with a very nice and helpful staff. Thank goodness we have at least one bookstore back in downtown WC.

It's really nice that Walnut Creek has a Barnes & Noble again! This location took over the old Forever 21, and while it's a clean, well-organized space to browse books, I do miss the café. It was nice to have a spot to escape reality, sip coffee, and get some work done. One thing to note is that they no longer have a dedicated parking garage, but there's still free parking nearby, like in the garage next to the movie theater. Also, they still have bathrooms, which is always a plus! Overall, a solid addition to downtown, even if it doesn't quite have the same cozy feel as before. read more

Great B&N location! This one is a good size, I have yet to explore the entire store. The sections are neat and organized, there are places to sit throughout the store. Employees are very helpful and even if there is a line formed at the front, the wait time goes by very quick! The times I have visited, the shelves are always well stocked and I usually go in not looking for a particular book by a certain author, rather, I go in to browse and see what they have on the shelves. I normally enter thru the kids section as it's closest to where I park. You'll find lots of great gifting ideas here. Games, puppets, classic books, vinyls, stationary, and more! Latest visit, I left with a new deck of oracle cards and a few books - one on oracles, a few poetry, an inspo book about creativity, and a cute notebook set. I would like to explore more in the self-help, poetry, travel, and kitchen sections next time. I would like to try to find a Brazilian food cook book - I browsed really fast, but I don't think I saw one there. I'm sure you can search for what you want and then they can order it for you too. Everything is fairly priced - some are more or less expensive like stationary desk organizational goods, but you pay for the quality and the name. You can find cool gifting things here - perfect for any time of the year imo. I loved the puppets and it brought back memories to go on the hunt for some of my old children's book faves. Their game selection is pretty strong too. Always take a peek at what they have there cause I like to see what's out on the market these days. I can spend hours inside here! Good thing there are comfy chairs, side tables, and free 3 hour parking garages nearby! read more

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Service 5/5 Selection 4/5 Value 4/5 Great place to buy books! I explored the music and album section and I wish they had more kpop related content. read more

Came here since I was walking around downtown Walnut Creek and it's a cute store with many selection of books to choose from. So glad I was able to stop by this store. read more

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Angie was super helpful when picking up our order and checking out. Angie was patient in finding our membership account and helping us redeem our points. Angie also provided great points on why to sign up for paid membership. Thank you for your service!! read more

I have so many fond memories of the previous Barnes and Noble that I loved seeing they were back on this block, in the old Ruth Chris locale. It was nice to peruse their gift and wrapping section and reminisce over when you could buy correspondence kits and I also loved their sweater weather corgi needlepoint. The new Barnes and Noble was very thoughtful about what to stock, with most of their book titles falling under easy holiday gifts and the back section of the store focusing on games and puzzles. The space is obviously a pop up, with easy to tear down and set up bookcases, but I adore that Holiday time Barnes and Noble is now the new Halloween Spirit Store. All in all welcome back to downtown Walnut Creek Barnes and Noble, we're glad to see you again! read more

OMG is it the happiest place in the Bay Area? MIGHT BE. I love it!!! The best replacement for that forever 21 store. You can spend hours in here! Nothing like a book store. The staff is so helpful and wonderful! Especially Meagan! She's so delightful! Stop by IMMEDIATELY read more

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One of the friendliest Barnes & Noble we've visited. The staff is helpful and friendly. The shelves are organized with a wide selection. When asking questions the staff makes you feel welcome instead of a nuisance. We went on a weekend and although it was very busy the staff still greeted everyone kindly and was available for any support. Best experience by far at a B&N. read more

Welcome back!! So incredibly happy to have a Barnes and Noble back in the Creek. A great place for gifts and a little after dinner shopping. A beautiful new store, well laid out and plenty of merchandise. A great place to visit either before a movie or after a great dinner. read more

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Having grown up and lived in the area for 40 years, I was truly sad when Barnes & Noble closed years back. Now that they are open, just a block away from their original location , I couldn't be more excited. The location is perfect (stop in after a movie or dinner at Cheesecake Factory or Tiki Tom's)! They have a huge selection of books and even records. Of course the kids area is great to give yourself a break - or everyone just a break from this crazy heat! The people working here are so helpful and kind. Even coming together for a the scavenger hunt that it was to find 1 of 2 remaining books of last months' Reese's' book club pick! This is definitely going to be a hot spot for holiday shopping and I do hope they bring back the volunteer wrapping people. It was always such a nice touch for the holidays. Also, don't forget to check out their events on social media because they do have a lot lined up for this month (September 2022). And that Amazon books just closed is a nice sweet poetic justice considering the time when B&N originally left Welcome back Barnes & Noble! You have truly been missed! read more

Popped in for a quick purchase and I was pleasantly surprised by the colorful space, exceptional lighting and great use of space. Be not fooled, this Barnes and Noble is quite smaller than most others, but they have truly done an amazing job of designing their floor plan in a way that everything you need seems to be conveniently located within just a few steps. No more walking into Barnes and Noble and wondering if you just stepped into Costco or Sam's Club. It truly feels like a local bookstore. Love it!!! read more

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I'm giving a 5 star review because when I called in with some questions Hailey was incredibly helpful by providing all of the answers I needed and more with great enthusiasm! read more

The store is in an easily accessible location. There is lots of parking! That's all the good there is.   Service is unfriendly. The salespeople are not helpful. When I went in today they were dealing with an emergency, a leak of sorts, and did not have time for questions. A few months back when I visited it was better. I remember a more welcoming atmosphere: there were ample chairs and little tables, where you could place a few books, browse, and decide what to buy. Very few chairs today and they have taken the tables away.   Unsmiling salespeople do not meliorate the atmosphere either. There is a rushed, unfriendly ambiance unlike any BN I have been to. Also, set on two levels, there is no ramp, so if you're disabled or pushing a stroller around, you will have difficulty moving between levels.   Bathrooms are filthy, and no hand soap or paper towels when I went in today. Ladies, avoid unless you really have to!   Giving the store one star for its location. read more

The cleanest and freshest smelling Barnes & Noble I've ever been in. And they have plenty of books. The staff was helpful in searching for a book online. Although, unfortunately, we determined the only way to get this book was through print on demand which makes it far easier, quicker, and cheaper to just buy it on Amazon. read more

Barnes & Noble - Barnes & Noble - Bookstores Near Me - Walnut Creek, California

Went here recently for the first time, This B&N is a lot smaller than any of the ones I've been to (Emeryville, Dublin, & El Cerrito). the employees are nice, everything is well stocked. that's about it! read more

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Service here is friendly. They have a variety of books. Items range from affordable to pricier. There are parking lots nearby. I do miss Forever 21 here. There is a movie theater and eateries nearby. read more

Happy to see a Barnes & Noble in Walnut Creek again. Plenty of stuff in the genre fiction sections, which is where I was looking for Christmas presents. read more

This location slays. First, great service...thank you Daphne, Mac, Sophia and crew. Second, super clean and organized! I have never not found the book I've been wanting. The selection is great. Location is awesome. I think they would get more business with more robust signage (not everyone knows they are here)! Also, midnight release of iron flame anyone?! Can't wait to join the next book club. read more

Just returned a book without a receipt at the sales counter. The people working there were really helpful--the record of me buying the book was hiding in the system, but they kept trying stuff until they found it, and then it was a normal return (cash or store credit). Thank you guys for your patience, professionalism, and kindness toward a customer who really didn't have her shoot together. read more

Really lovely and tidy store. The staff were really helpful and kind too. Baran took their time and were incredibly patient in helping me pick children's books for my nieces and nephew. Thea rung up my items and she was super friendly and helpful. Overall, a great experience for my first time ever in a Barnes and Noble store :) read more

Barnes and Noble back in the day (when it was on Main St) was my favorite place ever! I'm bummed because I used to draw and do art at the cafe and there's no cafe at the new location. Yes, there are plenty of coffee shops in Walnut Creek, but none compared to the quality of the cafe. read more

Stepped in dog diarrhea on my way to check out near the kids section. I was told they welcome non-service dogs into the store. (This isn't a B&N policy, just by location.) I left the books behind. Due to the way this diarrhea incident was handled and due to the fact that having dogs in a closed space around kids could spell trouble (Lots of kids are very afraid of dogs. My own son was bit unprovoked by a dog while playing soccer in the park.) we won't be back unless their policy changes. I love dogs. I just don't think the bookstore kid's section is the place for them to be. We are so going to miss Flashlight Books, but enthusiastically recommend Bel & Bunna's Books in downtown Lafayette as a great alternative for book shopping local, supporting an independent store, and receiving amazing customer service! read more

Beautiful space! I'm so happy B&N is back and I'm impressed by this location and all its offerings. It's easy to meander and find anything you're interested in. Tons of great gift options too. A must visit! read more