Famous bookstore chain with 600 locations closing store doors for good after 25 years - and says 'it's been a privilege'

A NATIONAL bookstore chain has announced one of its nearly 600 stores will close after 25 years in operation.

Barnes & Noble announced that it would close its location in downtown Naperville, Illinois, around 30 miles east of Chicago.

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A reason for the closure was not given in an Instagram post uploaded by the store on December 27.

This location will close on January 21 but will be relocated to another spot 10 miles away.

The store will move to the Prairie Market Shopping Center in Oswego, Illinois, and is set to open in the spring of 2024.

Barnes & Noble shared an exciting outlook on the new store's look.

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"The new location offers us a huge opportunity to feature our highly lauded new store design," the Instagram post said.

"We can't wait for you to see our unique new design features and updated B&N Café."

The post thanked the current staff and confirmed they would be relocated to other locations.

“We thank our wonderful Naperville booksellers for all their hard work and dedication and know that they look forward to welcoming you back to their new store,” the post said.

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The post also thanked the customers and shared their excitement to welcome them back at the future location.

“It has truly been our honor and privilege to be your bookseller in Naperville for the last 25 years,” the Naperville staff said.

Many fans were upset by the news and shared the impact they thought this would have on the city, in the posts’s comment section.

“This is a huge loss for Naperville,” one person wrote. 

“Downtown will never be the same.”

“This is really sad - a perfect location downtown, this will leave a glaring hole,” another local said.

“So many good memories of my childhood spent here!”

The location also posted that it had to close early on December 28 due to huge waiting lines forming in the store.

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“Please understand we’re doing the best we can to get through as many customers as possible, but as the day gets later and the lines for purchasing exceeds 4 hours, we can no longer accommodate new customers.”

It is not clear whether the news of the closure has sparked this influx of people.