Why bookstores are booming even in the age of online shopping
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- Citing a surge in reading, brick-and-mortar bookstores are making a massive comeback and suddenly booming even in the age of online ordering. NBC’s Maggie Vespa reports for TODAY.
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#bookstore #book #reading
Support independent bookstores
I love both. Besides while I love Barnes & Nobles they don't have all the books I want
I love bookstores with good deals. Its not personal. Grow up.
I don't have an independent bookstore nearby. 😢
That's what I do. I love holding a book in my hand. Turning page after page after I read them.
At the end of the day I don’t care if it’s independent or if it’s Barnes and Noble. As long as it’s not Amazon I’m in lol
Please put sofas and chairs back in the stores. I miss that era.
Only way I could do that was at the children's section, and the cafe
No it gives homeless people a place to sit
And the carpets where people would just lay down and have fun in ours. Our local bookstores look like a really sad warehouse now :(
Emphasis on sad because none of the employees genuinely know what they're even doing now.
@TwisterTornado I think they might not agree but instead are explaining the corporate reasoning.
Cities put bars on benches to make them uncomfortable... just another example of how they treat people. Also bathroom codes now required in city store because of this. Very sad. They try to get rid of them instead of help them.
@@anthonymcneal7216Actually they were removed because they were constantly being peed in.
Apparently kids, elderly, and other people peed in them all the time and it was extremely unsanitary. And it was easier to just get rid of them as opposed to cleaning them every other few days.
The absolute BEST news ive heard in a long time!!!!!!!
Absolutely agree! Too good to be true.
Absolutely! It’s great!
I agree
People are going to book stores physically is mostly Because Amazon is selling AI generated books and banning political books by real people! Its a MESS!! I'd rather go to a book store that sells information that I need, and doesn't discriminate knowledge!
Yes !
We need more third spaces…bookstores and cafes provide that
Exactly!!!
Exactly! America has none now that malls bookstores and cafes have closed 😢
Ikr!!
I've never heard of "third spaces", but it's so fitting. That's what's missing!
❤❤❤
Physical books will always be my preference. I’ve tried reading on an electronic device, and I hated it. I love the feel of the pages, the smell of the book, the book cover, everything about reading a physical book. And there is no greater joy than going into a bookstore and browsing. The whole experience is wonderful.
Hello! I love sniffing books. Sometimes, I know if it's a good book just by sniffing it 🙂😄 I cannot sniff my screen. And knowing where I put my phone, sniffing the screen wouldn't be a good idea 😄
Aside from that, something about watching your collection grow, especially for books that are in a massive series, just makes me at least feel really happy lol. Just slipping in another thick novel onto the shelf then you look back at your collection feels sweet and satisfying lol.
I love the smell of a library
I’m the opposite. So much better on kindle. Lighter. My whole library at my fingertips. Can read in any lighting condition. Can buy most books in seconds. Can read samples if I don’t have money to buy without having to go to a bookstore. Can find obscure books not available in most bookstores. Can do the same with renting and sampling from the library with the Libby app.
@@autofocus4556 Hello! There are indeed many advantages. I like both.
Ive never wanted to read a book on a screen. Real books are important.
I've read lots of books on an e-reader, but I agree, physical books are superior 👍 specially if they're secondhand or been in a library for ages, they smell awesome.
E book is more convenient 😊
You will when it’s freakin Fall of the Roman Empire at 10,000+ pages.
@@darinherrick9224 Agreed.
I’ve had to read textbooks on my laptop before and I hated it
People just got fed up of all the digital stuff and ads and the greedy subsrciption era. Our world now is sooo complicated that people just want it to be like how it was before. Simple! Buy book and read it. No ads, no hidden fees, its urs to keep forever or even lend it to a friend or even resell. Its tangible.
Free Little Library was and still is an ingenious concept in that respect. 💯
There’s no ads or fees to check out digital books from the library! LOL
I still use the library with my kindle through Libby. :D
@darinherrick9224 no but it takes SO long.
Wanting things to go back to a simpler time! I could write a book on that!
The hard copy movement is getting traction! Digital is convenient, but a hard copy is permanent.
Dunno about permanent unless you know how to make custom covers and whatnot for protection/longevity; Plus, hardcover books are way more expensive than paperback comparatively speaking. Don't get me wrong, I'm all for whatever will encourage people to rediscover the joy and power of reading, but I'd also encourage it in a way that's best for both the environment and our wallets.
@@originalfilmguru2930 digital books aren't any better for the environment. They require the use of smart devices that have a permanent footprint even when they are no longer functional, books are stored in the cloud (servers have huge ecological impacts). Your access to the book will last only as long as the devices they run on are working. For hard copies, you own the copy of the book that you have, you can share it with others and it won't vanish on you one day should companies like Amazon decide to remove it off their shelves. Amazon is also terrible for the publishing industry. Local independent bookstores are the way to go
Edit to add: secondhand books and libraries exist, so you don't have to break your bank to read.
I prefer printed books over digital.
@@originalfilmguru2930: A printed book has more longevity in the sense that digital books can be deleted off your device at any time by the distributor (Kindle, Nook, etc) if the publisher or distributor revokes your rights to the work. This has happened btw. A printed book will last for many years depending on type of paper and how well you take care of the book. With digital media, be it print, music, or video, you only pay for the rights to use it without ever actually owning it, unless you have nonDRM copies of it. Physical media is owned for life.
@@originalfilmguru2930It’s certainly more permanent than a digital copy. Just this year Amazon lost the rights to a book and deleted it not just from their store but from the library of anyone who bought it. They went so far as to delete it from kindles that had it downloaded. It’s a reminder that “buying” a digital copy of anything is just a lease that can be revoked at any time.
Support your local libraries.
U can checkout and request movies and books.
I love the library 💕
And digital books.
And donate books
Recently a library moved into a Shopping Mall and its the only source of reading there. And I hope some day they might bring more book shops in my area.
It just takes a long time to GET the books though, and so little time for slow readers to read it. There's a long waitlist, and then a limited amount of time you get with it.
Bookstores are so cozy 😊
Yes they are
Except with screaming kids (not against children, but parents should take control of them)
Borders was the goat
Lol I am. Sucks when you want to read but screaming unruly children ruin it. Like being on a flight.
SO COZY!
As an ex B&N employee, im all glad it's making a comeback! This was the best 1st job!
Recently retired from the Barnes&Noble Distribution Center in Monroe NJ. We shipped to Retail Stores and online orders. Best last job! *I am part of all that I have read.
People are going to book stores physically is mostly Because Amazon is selling AI generated books and banning political books by real people! Its a MESS!! I'd rather go to a book store that sells information that I need, and doesn't discriminate knowledge!
One of my first jobs too! Loved it. Being surrounded by books for your job is pretty great.
I loved my time at B&N
I used to work as a barista at Borders bookstore as a teen job. I agree with your sentiment!
Reasons why I like bookstores:
-I hate crowds of people. There's generally more space to move around in bookstores because you're usually staying in one spot at a time.
-It's quieter. It's the ultimate quiet next to a genuine library.
-People are usually kind.
-I feel genuinely smarter having read for 10-15 minutes instead of looking at depressive things via social media.
-I become EXCITED for future books or series that I've not discovered, in ways a movie or TV show can't.
Great comment ! I love this!
I feel the reason you are more excited for new book installments rather than movie sequels is because movies have so much advertising and spoiler filled trailers, and with that mixed with discussion, algorithms trying to recommend more content based on that movie, and of course leaks, it makes some movies feel underwhelming when you basically already know most of what will happen in the movie. Books on the other hand, you basically go into them completely blind. Sure, the book is announced and maybe there's a small synopsis. But books don't give you nearly as much before you read it. It definitely gives for a much more exciting experience
Omg yeah!!!!!
I agree!
Keep them literacy rates high please 🙏
I love that more bookstores are opening nationwide, whether it's Barnes and Noble or a small locally owned bookstore. As an avid reader before the digital age of ebooks, ereaders etc. I love that physical books and bookstores are gaining new traction. I'd love to also see libraries get more funding and support. I shop in physical bookstores as well as borrow books from my local library.
I LOVE my local library. If the book I would like to read is not on their shelves, they find it from a neighboring library and have it shipped over for me. When a book I borrow becomes a "keeper", then I go shopping. My personal collection is filled with books I treasure.
Nothing like going to buy a physical book. Brings me so much joy!
If you buy a physical copy you own it and no one can take it from you. Support local bookstores.
In the era when people are more and more isolated or feeling lonely, books are like our best friend. We look for books that resonate with us, that are tangible and feel real .
I love this comment.
Also it's nice shopping for them in store, surrounded by other readers. We may not like the same genres, but there's a kinship there imo
So good that bookstores are still thriving even after streaming books came along.
Listening to audiobooks is not reading and that is a hill that I will die on.
They aren’t. They’ve just consolidated. Digital killed most of them. The ones that are left are trying to survive.
Right! I’ve seen so many great bookstores that I love.
So happy for book stores. They need to bring back some comfy seating again
Yes! And tables!
I remember back in the 90s and early 2000s we'd go to the shopping mall (where the movie theaters were usually located) whenever we felt like watching a movie. We'd leave early so that we would have time to hang out at the bookstore, browse books and drink coffee, chocolate, tea, etc. It was good times!
This is good to see. Digital books are good but there is something unique about physical interactions when reading and shopping.
For me, I’m most nostalgic about books I physically read than on my kindle. I remember where I was when I read it and the cover and everything. I’m more likely to remember the authors name on a physical copy too.
Also the worry of services shutting down. I know it happened to one book streaming service, and everyone lost their digital library
most of the time i’ll buy an ebook if i can’t find the physical or if it’s free as an e-read
physical books in your hand just hits different 😌
Because the feeling of walking into a shop filled to the brim with books (and the an endless possibilities that represents) is a feeling that just cannot be replicated online...no matter the convenience.
Yes!!🤩
That's awesome that people are loving books again. Also don't forget to support your local library. Everyone should go to the library.
Totally!!!🎉
As someone who grew up reading books, I'm thrilled to see so many bookstores opening!
we are tired of digital..old school been here for a while and all these times, for a reason. Because it everlasting and evergreen. Tangible and touchable.
Here are some things that bookstores allows you to do, that online shopping does not. ☺️📚
- meeting new people and making friends.
- makes you consider beyond your preferences, looking into other books that you haven't seen but interest you.
- availability of second-hand books
- you don't have to pay shipping fees.
I don't have shipping fees. Our book store send the books for free
My favourite bookshop is an independent one, the only one specialising in foreign language literature in my city. I go more or less frequently (much less when I am on a book ban😅) and after the US elections I went in (bought Lisa Marie Presley’s memoir) and had a chat with the bookseller. Turns out she lives in my neighbourhood, so we exchanged numbers and now we’re friends who love books!! Absolutely love that sense of community!
People make friends in bookstores?
Booktok and BookTube are the main reason
Facts
Booktube? What's that?
@@ILIVEAGOODLIFE
its made up
@@ILIVEAGOODLIFE it's the community on TH-cam that posts about books. Same for Tiktok.
@@ILIVEAGOODLIFEinfluencers who are really into book reading and post either in TH-cam, TikTok, or both. A more widespread book reading community through those mediums.
Yay, Physical media!! If you can’t hold it, you don’t own it! 📚❤
So true!!!!!
As an avid comic book reader, I’ve never found digital platforms to capture the same magic as physical copies (despite having the same content). There’s something irreplaceable about the texture of the pages, the weight of the book, the smell, and the vividness of the art in my hands. That’s why I always seek out bookstores and libraries whenever I get the chance. I hope these spaces can continue to flourish, preserving the joy of physical reading for generations to come. It’s the same outlook I hold for movie theaters because no matter how accessible the content becomes, the experience itself is irreplaceable.
There is something so heartwarming and romantic about holding and reading a physical book
There is something special about going to a book store and browsing the books, magazines and everything else. If it has a nice cafe in there, even better. I still miss Borders, my weekly or bi-weekly stop. It was so special.
Ugh, yes!! I also miss Borders so much!
This is great news. I love bookstores and I hope brick and mortar stores continue to thrive. The loss of them is unimaginable.
Barnes and Noble is very expensive. That's why I'm shocked it's doing so well, but good for them.
They got a lot of books and they’re everywhere
I was gifted their membership for a year. I found that even with that, their prices were far too expensive. Most of the time the “deals” that the membership provided weren’t applicable to more than a shelf or two of books!
Way over priced
They are more expensive than Amazon but less expensive than my local bookstores.
I go to them after thrift stores and Half Price Books when I want something specific, and use a gift card so it’s not my money I’m spending
Back then, my local Barnes and noble and bookstores would never be full of people, like a few ppl browsing here and there but each time I visit now, it’s PACKED! So many different people of all ages are in there now and it makes me so happy!
Because Amazon can take away your digital books you thought you owned on your kindle. Because any purchased book from them can be taken away at any moment I’ll be buying physical ones from now on 🌝
Why buy when you could borrow? Our libraries are in need of patrons ya know...
If you purchased and downloaded local copies this isn’t true.
I agree. There was a book I wanted to get after seeing it mentioned in a video description. It is a book on the Egyptian origins of the story of Atlantis and when I saw it was no longer available on Kindle according to a comment I checked myself. I’m really mad because I have been fascinated by that story since I was a kid and reading about how the Ancient Egyptians had an early version of the lost land story sounded really fun. Unfortunately I don’t know of any bookstores that carry a copy near where I live and I would love to read it sometime.
@@originalfilmguru2930 Why borrow what you want to own? Checking out books from a library is good if you have no desire to keep the book you want to read or if you want to read a book before deciding if you want to buy it. People want to keep what they've paid for.
This happened to me....I bought a book YEARS ago, and was looking for it in my library to realize they deleted it and prompted me to purchase it 😠
There is nothing compared to a book, when it comes to reading. I love the feel and smell of the binding and pages, new or old.
I will NEVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER EVER give up my physical book collection. NEVER!
Lots of books at the thrift store.
I go there first and then Half Priced Books. Last resort is Barnes and noble
Don't forget yard sales.
I just wish they weren't throwing away paper backs it's really hard to find paperbacks and I love them so much better than hard backs which are hard to relax and read with. Anna In Ohio
Great to hear B&N is doing much better. I try to get books from local stores in my zip code.
I love Barnes & Noble! Great to see it back from coast to coast!
i wish toysrus can make a come back too sigh....the store was magical as a child
@@jinsu0504
toys aren’t even a thing anymore electronics are the new toy
The more the world gets digital, the more we miss in person experiences and physical books.
It has become more special and desired. Especially after the pandemic.
I'm absolutely ecstatic to hear this news!
I absolutely love bookstores and libraries! Can spend a whole day there and be completely content! Nothing like holding a book in your hands, turning the pages, that new book versus old book smell….. knowledge!
Independent bookstores are first choice, but Mr. Daunt and co has done incredibly with Barnes and Noble.
They independent. That’s the point. They focus on local wants of readers and that’s why they are so much better.
Indie bookstores and more B & N popping up?!?! So many of them!!!! THIS ALL MAKES ME SO HAPPY!!!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 LONG LIVE PHYSICAL BOOKS!!!!! AND SUPPORTING LIBRARIES!!!!
MAKE BOOK STORES GREAT AGAIN !!
Yes!!! 📚
Real books are BY FAR THE BEST
People have finally realized books bring communities together.
Happy to hear that, in Germany the independent bookstores and larger chains are also highly valued!
Support local libraries they offer a lot
This is AWESOME! I am a very technology-based person in a technical field, but when I recently was wrapping up my bachelors degree, I couldn't stand having a digital book. There is just something truly organic about the experience of holding an actual book and being able to physically flip through the pages. eBooks just don't do it for me, so I am glad to see that the bookstores have the upperhand this holiday season. Happy holidays, everybody! :)
its kind of a shame that we're polluting the environment and cutting trees just because you don't like ebooks
@@Lildizzle420 This is giving "Vegans shaming non-vegans for enjoying animal products by trying to moralize it with environmentalism." If anything, you'll just make people less receptive to environmentalist messages. Bring that up with the lumber industry, and the publishing industry, who actually have the power to demand sustainable practices. Yes, sustainable logging IS a thing, and it needs to be used more. Getting hoity-toity over someone wanting a physical book is worse than useless if you actually care about the environment and not just looking like a "morally superior" person.
@@CEMonaghanOfficial I'm aware books are sacrosanct to readers, they're more religious about books than jesus christ but the fact remains, the book industry is terrible and should be shut down.
that's what makes it so difficult to explain to a person why you can't make books sustainable in a world with 10 billion people.
and those corporations are not going to stop burning remainder books unless you stop buying them.
I'm so happy to hear this. Bookstores have always been a peaceful refuge for me. I really hope they stick around.
I love how physical books are always loved, I hope we start to appreciate all forms of physical media such as dvds for music and movies or invent something better because streaming and cloud services are only getting more expensive and unreliable with our personal data…
There's a subtle difference of holding onto a book, flipping pages, using a bookmark, smell of prints, carrying it around to your favorite coffee shop, and stacking onto your book shelves; compared to pdf-ing electronic pixels. Really great news.
It's the Smell. Nothing better than the smell of 1000s of books. It goes with a cup-a-joe and an acoustic guitar strumming somewhere.
Because believe it or not, turning one page after another is just so satisfying, feeling the texture of the paper, seeing how you progress with the thickness of the remaining pages, and just getting to embrace the book or put it by your bed side, all these come with the actual reading experience you have been accustomed to while growing up.
Closing that last page. 😌👌 Can't be replicated.
Computer screens hurt your eyes; books do not.
You can always adjust screens to make it less harmful for your eyes to make them closer to a book.
Computers screens watch you; books do not.
We are tired of e-commerce and their lies. If we dont own the digital content and can't move it to other devices, then we won't buy it. If i buy a physical book or music cd, i can move it from my shelf to my desk or table. I can loan it to a friend. I can resale it. You can't do that with digital content. That's why physical media and books are making a come back. I have cd's from the early 90's that still work, and i enjoy them ad free. I love my book collection.
A place to Escape the digital world...plus bookstores/ libraries are absolute places of therapy
America does not offer places for people to go out and just enjoy themselves. Online shopping just doesn’t satisfy the need for third spaces. People like to go out and once malls and bookstores closed down and dwindled America was left with no third spaces
Park, beach, etc…
@@adrianelias2365sometimes it’s freezing outside or you don’t live by the beach. Those are great summer activites tho!
I don't know if bookstores are booming, but B&N is doing well. Why wouldn't they? They charge full retail prices for their books, and triple for their accessories like markers, so their profit margin must be huge. I shop there, too, even though Amazon is MUCH cheaper. Why? To walk around for a few hours and Zen out. It's the atmosphere. The smell of books. The airconditioning. The visuals. The ability to put my hands on the books to shop them. That's worth something, so I'll pay the extra money for the instant gratification (read: expense) of a retail book.
You forgot the smell of Starbucks coffee as you browsed throughout the store....
This isn’t true. They frequently have discounted books.
"I don't know if bookstores are booming, but B&N is doing well." The title of the video could've used some revision, yes. If bookstores, as in all brick-and-mortar bookstores, are booming, then how would the segment at 1:29 be explained?
Best places for books? Try libraries.
The greatest ( and FREE ) gift any child could get is a library card.
I agree, my children each had their own library card as soon as they could write their name.🤗 Libraries are wonderful (and we have a lovely library in my small town).
That said, there’s certainly nothing wrong with buying books, either. I have a small library of my own, that I have built up over the years. I have bought them from every source available to me such as online, brick & mortar, thrift stores, yard sales, and library book sales (I’m not a book snob, as long as the books are in reasonably good condition🤗).
I love every kind of bookstore but small and used are my favorite. E-reader for some circumstances like travel but a physical book is great.
As an unpublished author and lifelone writer, these makes my heart fluffy. Glad we're slowly appreciating back the preciousness of reading a book within your hands.
this made me so happy. keep the bookstores alive! ❤
Independent bookstores can offer a niche that mainstream retailers cannot
And that money is going to be spread in your neighborhood, as opposed to going to corporate headquarters.
Barnes & Noble is the Blockbuster Video of book stores.
I don’t know what I’d do without Barnes and noble. It’s the best place to go, wander around and make my booklist, so I can buy all my books cheaper elsewhere..😂😂
I'm thrilled to see physical bookstore again❤❤
I LOVVEE PHYSICAL BOOKS, JOURNALS, DIARY’S, NEWSPAPERS, ✨🍂
Support independent bookstores if they’re available to you, they’re more personalized and specific and you don’t have to support a giant corporation
It is similar to record collecting. It is the hunt for books that is part of the experience. People want the physical book in hand. Used stores are more exciting, especially when you discover something you never knew existed.
Go to the bookstores is a theraphy...
That’s interesting because I coincidentally have been reading more books lately than I ever have in my life. I go to a local bookstore all the time.
Yes, stores are opening this year but you didn't state that thousands closed in the last five years.
Exactly. This is really misleading. They are consolidating not booming.
We all love bookstores ❤
Books are important! Reading & mental health 🙏
Great story, Maggie. We miss you in Portland, btw but so happy for you.
Glad to hear about this 😊
Hello from Bucharest, Romania - a huge underrated city in Europe:)
There are myriad reasons why this is the case but the fact that you don't actually legally own your digital media is a strong argument for buying physical media.
That, and you can still read it when the solar storm hits and knocks out all our electricity for six weeks...
Barnes and Noble need to make their prices more competitive. I'd shop more frequently if I didn't have to pay $29.99 for a book that I could purchase from Amazon for $11.99.
Books don't need electricity, and they remain operational for hundreds of years without needing an update.
'Nuff said.
um wow no books don't need electricity, they just cut down the trees and pollute the water and the air and take up space in bookstores and burned at the end of the year when they don't get sold. you produce more pollution driving to the book store than if you just picked up your phone and download an app
I love B&N, it's fantastic. Great covers and art, relaxing ambiance, good cafe, good deals, cute sideline merch, nice selection
Borders is punching the air right now 😅
I loved Borders so much
I miss borders
I loved Borders too, but honestly I saw their demise from a mile away.
Borders was so much more cozier than Barnes & Nobles. You could literally sit anywhere in there and get into what you were reading. They also had some an amazing café, from what I can remember.
Booktube and booktok brought back bookstores ❤
Yes. Finally people are making some wholesome content and inspiring good habits like reading.
Making physical copies of books means that people will be able to keep their jobs in the factories that produce them and the people who make the machines that produce the books and maintain the machines will also keep their jobs because people are going back to buying physical books.
This makes me so happy for so many reasons!! ❤
Very happy to hear this now can we bring back b dalton and Walden books? Those were my favorite
There’s nothing like actually holding a book. ❤ Happy to see the bookstore comeback! 🎉
What a great news that I have been waiting for decades!
I love that B&N is still around. When they took away Books-A-Million and Borders, I thought surely B&N would be the next victim, but they survived Amazon and made a complete comeback.
I am so excited to hear this! 📚✨
This is so Awesome, people need to learn to read and read all they can. Knowledge is power!!!!
Bookstores are wonderful ❤
Book 📕 stores need to stay. They are so needed.
My son and I have a room library, since he was in kindergarten he developed an obsession with reading and we buy books like toilet paper LOL , Children used to get incentives in school for reading and that started it all.
There is nothing like a tangible book, and nothing like browsing in a cozy environment in person. I hope Blockbuster is next- I really miss going down to rent my Friday night movie.
We love books!
They should thank the book bloggers who record their bookstore visits and recommendations of books!