Beloved book store ‘better quality than Walmart’ confirms plans to open over 60 new stores in 2025

A POPULAR book store is making a comeback as it plans to open more than 60 new locations this year.

The once-struggling retailer is back on the rise after years of decline.

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Barnes & Noble, the New York-based bookseller, said it plans to open 60 new stores in 2025.

The number is an increase over the chain’s 57 new stores in 2024.

The uptick in Barnes & Noble’s success comes after more than a decade of decline for the business.

In the 2010s, the chain shuttered as many as 150 stores.

Barnes & Noble is seeing significant growth thanks to its successful strategy of giving local booksellers control over individual stores.

The company has reported strong sales at existing locations and has been rapidly expanding after over 15 years of store closures.

In 2024, it opened more bookstores in one year than it did throughout the entire decade from 2009 to 2019.

Looking ahead, Barnes & Noble plans to capitalize on its success with more than 60 new locations in 2025.

“The bookseller is experiencing strong sales in its existing stores and has been opening many new stores after more than 15 years of declining store numbers,” the company said in a press release.

“In 2024, Barnes & Noble opened more new bookstores in a single year than it had in the whole decade from 2009 to 2019.

“Barnes & Noble is enjoying a period of tremendous growth as the strategy to hand control of each bookstore to its local booksellers has proven so successful.”

New locations are set to open nationwide in states including California, Florida and New York.

Barnes & Noble has already opened stores in 2025, in Bellevue, Washington, Town & Country, Texas, Naples, Florida, Superior, Colorado and Brentwood, California.

One of the new stores is located in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania.

The Bryn Mawr location opened on February 12, in a building that had formerly housed a Barnes and Noble location nearly two decades earlier.

Barnes & Noble also opened a location in Papillion, Nebraska on April 9.

The location is one of four set to open this month, alongside locations in Florida, Illinois, and New York.

“I am excited to open Barnes & Noble at Shadow Lake Town Center,” said Store Manager Rob Herpel.

“I look forward to serving the community of Papillion with our beautiful new bookstore and café!”

The store opened with a ribbon-cutting ceremony that included an autograph signing with best-selling author Lynn Painter.

Part of the store’s success has been attributed to social media trends.

The growing community of readers on TikTok known as #BookTok has caused an explosion of book sales.

One fan shared her excitement in a video posted to Facebook.

“Better toy quality [than] Target or Walmart, the kids and I have been coming for a looong time,” the fan wrote.

“I get to read and they get to look at all the toys and of course a sweet treat from #starbucks is cherry on top.”