New stores to locate in Skokie’s Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center by holiday season

A series of new retail stores are about to open at Skokie’s Westfield Old Orchard Shopping Center, with a popular choice for book lovers now returning to the mall.

Westfield announced the return of Barnes & Noble, which closed its Old Orchard bookstore last year after a 27-year run, with the company saying a re-development of the previous building necessitated the closure.

Barnes & Noble officials are now promising a two-story, approximately 20,000 square-foot store at 4999 Old Orchard Shopping Center, close to Zara clothing store and opposite The Cheesecake Factory.  Inside the location will be a Paper Source, a stationary and gift retailer.

“Old Orchard was one of the busiest of all the Barnes & Noble bookstores and it was very sad to close the store last year.  This said, the building was very dated and having it torn apart gives us the opportunity to build a new store,” Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt said in a statement.  “It is exciting also to have a Paper Source within the store.  Paper Source is such a great Chicago brand and will beautifully complement the bookstore.”

Also scheduled to open ahead of the holidays was a Bloomie’s, the second-in-the-nation concept store opened by Macy’s Inc., the owners of Bloomingdale’s.  Pioneer Press reported in August a shift in strategy with the closure of the large Old Orchard Bloomingdale’s department store with the owners downsizing to a smaller location on the property.

Also set to open is a Psycho Bunny, which offers mens’, boys’, and big and tall clothing, and a Levi’s store. Tory Burch, which sells designer handbags, shoes and accessories, and Alo Yoga, which offers yoga and workout wear, recently opened.

Mall patrons will also be able to eat at The Capital Grille steakhouse and Molly’s Cupcakes.

“The new openings and longstanding retail partners will continue to provide a best-in-class shopping experience for the North Shore community, and we can’t wait to share even more updates soon,” Westfield Old Orchard Senior General Manager Serge Khalimsky said in a statement.

A Westfield spokeswoman did not offer specific dates when the stores would open.