How America Learned to Love Barnes & Noble Again

"Then Barnes & Noble got its comeuppance. In the years after the 2008 financial crisis, it closed more than 150 stores. To some extent, the bookstore was experiencing the same predicament of chain retail generally, which, after robust expansion that put mom-and-pop shops out of business, declined faster than independent stores in the age of e-commerce."

"But today, in a world more online than ever, Barnes & Noble is experiencing a revival. It opened 60 new stores last year and plans to do the same this year. It is reportedly soliciting banks to handle an IPO-a sign that a turnaround effort by Elliott Investment Management, the hedge fund that took the company private in 2019, has reached its conclusion."

"Distinctions between chain and local have been superseded by the split between online and in-person shopping. Book-buying Americans, whose support for indie shops was one of the hallmarks of a progressive anti-chain movement that flourished in the 2000s, seem to be less discerning than they used to be."

Barnes & Noble transformed from a symbol of corporate retail dominance in the 1990s to a struggling chain after the 2008 financial crisis, closing over 150 stores as Amazon disrupted the industry. The company that had displaced local bookstores faced similar displacement from e-commerce. However, in today's increasingly online world, Barnes & Noble is reversing course with significant expansion plans, opening 60 new stores annually and preparing for a potential IPO. The distinction between chain and independent retailers has become less relevant than the online versus in-person divide. Consumer preferences have shifted, with book buyers now less concerned about supporting independent shops. Barnes & Noble's resurgence stems partly from adopting successful practices from independent bookstores, moving away from standardized store designs toward more individualized locations.

Read at The Atlantic