New partnership with Barnes & Noble Inc. Expands General Books Department at University Book Store – Textbooks, Student & Art Supplies, Husky Department, and Gifts continue to be independently owned and operated by the University Book Store.

Early summer launch date to be announced.

SEATTLE, WA – May 22, 2025 – University Book Store was founded by University of Washington students in 1900. We are independent from the university and operate as a corporate trust for the benefit of UW students, faculty, and staff. We are excited to partner with Barnes & Noble Inc. (the bookselling chain, not Barnes & Noble College) to run our general books department. They will expand the book department to cover two floors, significantly increasing inventory and selection.

This partnership enables University Book Store to remain the preeminent General Books provider in the college store industry. University Book Store will stay independent and concentrate on the core of our mission: providing textbooks and student supplies for the university community, promoting UW through insignia products, and supporting students.

Pack Rewards members (UW Students, Staff, Faculty, UWAA, and UWRA members) will continue to receive exclusive benefits in-store at Barnes & Noble within University Book Store. Our unique Cooperative agreement with Barnes & Noble will ensure that we continue to offer the same curated selection, programming, and cooperation with the UW campus that we’re known for, enhanced by Barnes & Noble’s resources and technology.

Other departments will continue to operate independently, including textbooks, student and art supplies, Husky gear, and gifts. Boon Boona Cafe will also retain its location within the store.

University Book Store CEO Trevor Peterson: “Pairing the expertise, supply chain efficiency, and IT infrastructure of B&N with UBS’s robust events program, knowledgeable staff, and locally curated focus will take the department to new heights.”

Janine Flanigan, Barnes & Noble's vice president of store planning and design, says, "Beginning early summer 2025, Barnes & Noble will bring a revitalized selection of books, gifts, and more, to the UBS and University District communities, working in close coordination with the beloved UBS book sellers who will continue curating a community-driven bookstore experience, enhancing the bookstore experience for campus and community readers alike. We are very pleased to share that booksellers currently operating the general bookstore will join the B&N team."

Barnes & Noble will keep all of the book store’s current staff, who will remain in charge of curating the selection of books and programming to keep the local Seattle flair of the University Book Store. Both parties look forward to collaborating on this completely new store model that differs from Barnes & Noble’s conventional stores. Barnes & Noble’s new CEO, James Daunt, has taken the company in a new direction by giving stores more local control, and this partnership will represent an apotheosis of that philosophy.