Bookstores' resurgence good news for readers, everyone

The Chicago Tribune Editorial Board

As winter settles in and daylight fades early, Americans long have turned to books for comfort, curiosity and company. The good news this holiday season is that the bookstores that make that habit possible are rebounding, too.

In the late 1990s, many book lovers often looked with scorn upon the likes of Barnes & Noble and the now-defunct Borders, favoring the dusty shelves of their preferred independent book haunt.

Fast-forward to now and bookstores of any kind have been harder to come by in many communities. The old bookstore wars are over. In an age of Amazon dominance, readers have learned to root for anyone selling physical books, and that enthusiasm appears to be paying off.

Barnes & Noble is leading the charge, opening nearly 70 new stores in 2025, with plans to add another 60 in the new year.

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