Barnes & Noble

Barnes & Noble, Inc. stands as the largest retail bookseller in the United States, with a robust presence both in physical locations and online. The company began its journey in 1886 in New York City, initially known as Arthur Hinds & Company. Gilbert Clifford Noble joined the firm as a clerk and later became a partner, leading to the renaming of the store to Hinds & Noble. In 1917, a partnership with William Barnes resulted in the iconic Barnes & Noble name that endures today. The modern expansion of the company took off in 1971 when Leonard Riggio acquired the last remaining store and transformed it into a national chain. This expansion accelerated through the 1980s and 1990s, with Barnes & Noble acquiring competitors like B. Dalton and operating over 1,000 stores at its peak.

The rise of e-commerce and shifting consumer preferences posed challenges, prompting Barnes & Noble to close several locations and pivot towards a more experiential and community-focused retail approach. In 2019, the company was acquired by Elliott Investment Management, ushering in a period of revitalization aimed at adapting to market changes and consumer needs.

As of November 2025, Barnes & Noble operates approximately 600 stores across all 50 states. The company's footprint includes a mix of traditional large-format bookstores, smaller neighborhood stores, and locations on college campuses. Recent years have seen the company actively opening new stores and relocating existing ones, with a strategic focus on right-sizing formats and entering underserved markets. This expansion includes a strong emphasis on flexible store designs and community engagement, targeting both urban and suburban areas. Notable growth markets include Texas, Florida, California, the Midwest, and the Northeast.

Barnes & Noble's continued expansion and reinvestment in physical locations underscore its role as a significant anchor tenant and a key traffic driver for shopping centers and mixed-use developments. The company's scale, brand recognition, and diverse store formats ensure its ongoing relevance in the competitive U.S. book market.