January was a protracted month, however we lastly have some excellent news in 2025: Bookseller Barnes & Noble plans to open at least 60 new stores this year, topping final 12 months’s report of 57 shops and marking a gradual revival of its brick-and-mortar bookstores throughout the nation.
“[Barnes & Noble] is experiencing robust gross sales in its present shops and has been opening many new shops after greater than 15 years of declining retailer numbers,” the corporate advised Quick Firm. “In 2024, Barnes & Noble opened extra new bookstores in a single 12 months than it had in the entire decade from 2009 to 2019 . . . [The company] is having fun with a interval of great development because the technique at hand management of every bookstore to its native booksellers has confirmed so profitable.”
As Quick Firm beforehand reported, after more than a decade of shuttering locations, ultimately closing 150 locations, the chain began ramping up once more in 2023 with some 30 new shops.
A few of its latest areas opening this 12 months might be in prime retail areas, comparable to a brand new D.C. flagship retailer in upscale Georgetown.
2025 marks a brand new period for Barnes & Noble and different bookstores thanks to a couple elements, together with digital fatigue, TikTok’s #BookTok, the loneliness epidemic, and an increase in so-called third areas (extra on that beneath).
However first, right here’s a listing of the cities the place Barnes and Noble might be opening new areas in 2025.
New Barnes & Noble areas already open in 2025
- Bellevue, Washington
- City & Nation, Texas
- Naples, Florida
- Superior, Colorado
- Brentwood, California
Barnes & Noble areas but to open in 2025
Barnes & Noble advised Quick Firm the chain additionally presently has 37 signed leases for upcoming shops within the following states—plus numerous different leases within the works (although it didn’t provide a timeline for after we can anticipate the brand new shops):
- California
- Florida
- Colorado
- Texas
- Washington
- Pennsylvania
- Ohio
- Virgina
- New York
- Nebraska
- Michigan
- Illinois
- Connecticut
- Arizona
- New Hampshire
- Maryland
- Kansas
Why is there a bookstore revival?
Whereas it might sound counterintuitive on this age of digital consumption, with individuals typically buried of their telephones, bookstores (and books!) are literally making a comeback.
One main purpose is the rise of TikTok’s neighborhood of avid readers, #BookTok, which has been credited with serving to authors promote hundreds of thousands of books, and has advanced into one of many extra standard corners of the platform, with creators making movies of ebook hauls, evaluations, and bookcase setups, and swapping suggestions.
“For the reason that rise of BookTok throughout the pandemic, bookstores have seen a big surge in recognition, particularly amongst younger individuals,” Barnes & Noble advised Quick Firm. “Our shops have turn into standard social spots, providing an expertise that on-line purchasing merely can’t match.”
There’s additionally a latest rise in “third locations,” that are gathering locations exterior of labor and residential the place individuals can go to be round different individuals or meet buddies, like espresso outlets, bars, and gymnasiums.
With loneliness and isolation at an all-time high, individuals are returning to those third locations, together with bookstores, as a result of they’re free and secure environments stocked with studying materials, and infrequently espresso and chilly drinks—which attracts in additional guests (that is why many more moderen bookstores have added a espresso store or café to assist make the shop extra inviting).
Bookstores additionally provide a solution to be round like-minded individuals who have comparable pursuits. That’s why, across the nation, area of interest bookstores—romance bookstores, particularly—are additionally booming. The truth is, more than 20 have opened in the previous few years, up from simply two in 2020.
A type of new bookstores is Lovestruck Books, which simply opened smack within the middle of Harvard Sq. in Cambridge, Massachusetts. The delightfully embellished retailer has greater than 12,000 books, along with a retail space with candles, tea, stationery, and a George Howell Espresso store. (Creator’s word: Sure, I admit that I’ve been there—and ended up staying for an hour. I extremely advocate discovering a bookstore close to you!)
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