RAPID CITY, S.D. – July 16, 2025 — Barnes & Noble has officially opened its new bookstore in Rapid City, bringing a national brand and a fresh literary hub to the Black Hills. Located in Rushmore Crossing at 1617 Eglin Street, the new 20,000-square-foot store welcomed book lovers Wednesday morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and book signing hosted by South Dakota native and bestselling children’s author Sean Covel.
Covel, widely known for producing Napoleon Dynamite, has since turned his focus to children’s literature and literacy advocacy. At the event, he signed copies of his latest title, Who Is The Super Ultra Mega Special Super Special Guest?, and spoke to fans about his journey from the Black Hills to the bookshelves.
“Growing up in the Black Hills, I dreamed of seeing my books on Barnes & Noble shelves,” Covel said. “To cut the ribbon on Rapid City’s first Barnes & Noble — with my own books inside — is absolutely mind-blowing.”
The Rapid City opening is part of Barnes & Noble’s broader resurgence, with seven new stores launching in July alone, including locations in Texas, Pennsylvania, and Washington. CEO James Daunt credited local advocacy for the Rapid City store, citing emails and campaigns from residents and booksellers urging the chain to plant roots in the region.
“We are very pleased to open this beautiful new bookstore in Rapid City,” Daunt said. “It is a direct result of some of our booksellers and many residents of Rapid City emailing with a vigorous campaign to ask us to open here. We thank them for their persistence.”
The store’s design blends the feel of an independent bookstore with the scale and selection of the national chain. Customers will find a wide range of books, toys, games, stationery, and gifts, along with a full-service B&N Café.
Melissa Anderson, the store manager and a Rapid City native, said the store’s presence fulfills a long-standing need in the local literary community.
“The Black Hills are rich in history and culture,” Anderson said. “I am honored to bring Barnes & Noble to my hometown and be part of the team that helps foster a love of learning through literature in the community.”
Barnes & Noble is currently experiencing a wave of expansion after more than a decade of shrinking store counts. The company opened more new bookstores in 2024 than it did in the entire decade from 2009 to 2019 and plans to open over 60 new locations in 2025.
For updates on upcoming events and author visits, the community is encouraged to follow the store on social media at @bnrapidcitysd.
