Confirmed: this is the famous chain that's going to open dozens of stores in the U.S.

The rise of digital commerce has led many to think that physical bookstores would disappear. For years, people believed that the convenience and low cost of e-books would make no one buy paper books again.

However, reality has proved the opposite. Barnes & Noble, the iconic chain of American bookstores, has announced a major expansion in 2024 and 2025, with the opening of more than 60 new stores across the country. This news, in part, confirms the recovery of a sector that seemed doomed to disappear.

Barnes & Noble launches its strategy in the United States

Although e-books emerged strongly starting in 2007, with devices like the Kindle, they never managed to fully displace paper books. Users value the experience of holding a physical book and displaying it in their homes, something an e-book can't offer.

According to Pew Research data, 32% of Americans read only printed books and 33% combine physical and digital books. In total, 75% of adults read books in any format during the past year.

Barnes & Noble suffered a heavy blow in its first decades of this century, with the closure of many stores and poor decisions such as firing book experts. However, with new leadership and a model based on giving more autonomy to local managers, the chain is being reborn. In 2024, they opened more stores than in the entire last decade and plan to open more than 60 in 2025, reveals The Street.

The chain bets on community and proximity

The key to Barnes & Noble's current success is that each store operates almost like an independent bookstore. Managers have the freedom to adapt the book selection, organize events, and connect with the local community. This has turned their points of sale into meeting places for readers and culture lovers.

The company is even returning to towns where they had previously closed stores. CEO James Daunt highlighted the importance of these returns: "It's especially gratifying to return to communities we used to serve. For example, in Bryn Mawr we opened at the same address we had before."

The book industry in the United States is showing signs of health, with a 5.3% annual increase in the number of bookstores since 2019. Barnes & Noble's bet on smaller, locally managed stores is at the center of this revitalization. Despite technological advances, paper books and physical bookstores still have a special place in Americans' lives.