Citing a surge in reading, brick-and-mortar bookstores are making a massive comeback and suddenly booming even in the age of online ordering, thanks in part to BookTok and nostalgia.
One of the biggest players in this resurgence is Barnes & Noble, the long-established retail giant that has turned a new page in its history. With plans to open 60 new stores nationwide this year — the most in a single year since 2007 — Barnes & Noble is making headlines and revitalizing the bookstore experience. Meanwhile, independent bookstores are also booming, with nearly 300 new stores opening across the United States in 2023 alone, according to the American Booksellers Association.
“We gave back our stores to our teams to organize themselves, display books, whatever they like,” CEO James Daunt shared in a recent interview about Barnes & Noble.
