The latest business to join the University Place mall lineup in Chapel Hill is close to opening its doors.

Barnes & Noble, the major bookstore and entertainment chain, is planning a grand opening for Wednesday, September 23 at its location at 201 South Estes Drive. Flyers posted in the store’s windows say to expect a public opening at 10 a.m. — with Cary-based fantasy author Scott Reintgen on-hand to serve as a ribbon-cutter and special guest.

Reintgen is a New York Times best-selling author with 2023’s “A Door in the Dark,” which became the first book of his Waxways trilogy, and the first book of his new The Dragonship series, “The Last Dragon on Mars.” The Chapel Hill Barnes & Noble has copies of the latest book in the series, “The Rise of Neptune,” on display at the new location and the third book — “The Void Dragons” — is expected to release this fall. Reintgen is also a UNC alumnus, having taken part in its creative writing program and graduated in 2010 with a bachelor’s degree in English.

A grand opening flyer in the window of Chapel Hill’s Barnes & Noble bookstore, along with the copies of Scott Reintgen’s, “The Rise of Neptune.” (Photo by Brighton McConnell/Chapel Hill Media Group.)

While Barnes & Noble operates UNC’s Student Stores building on campus and has eight stores elsewhere in the Triangle, the University Place location marks its first traditional store within Chapel Hill town limits. The bookstore was built out this summer across more than 19,000 square feet in the central mall building, much of which was previously used by Planet Fitness before it closed last December.

With its opening, Barnes & Noble will officially become the latest addition to University Place, with the only other new business opened so far in 2026 being H&H Bagels in January. But the Chapel Hill mall, which is owned by Ram Realty and operated by JLL, has several other major additions lined up — including the restaurant and wine bar Postino and Bliss Nail Bar before the end of the year, and interior design store HomeSense in 2027. All three locations, which are similarly part of the main mall building, are still under construction as part of the latest steps of University Place’s redevelopment under Ram Realty.

While hours for the Chapel Hill location have not yet been posted, most other local Barnes & Noble stores operate seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Mondays through Saturdays and adjusted hours on Sundays.

Featured image via Michael Koh/Chapel Hill Media Group.

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