Barnes & Noble Eyes Major Expansion with 60 New Stores in 2025

CEO James Daunt announced plans to open another 60 stores next year, continuing the retailer’s aggressive growth strategy.

At the close of 2024, Barnes & Noble had 653 stores nationwide—an increase from 610 at the end of 2023. That number includes the four Tattered Cover locations acquired earlier in the year. By the end of 2025, the company aims to reach approximately 700 stores, though final numbers will depend on construction and permitting timelines.

While the rapid expansion is notable, some industry insiders speculate that the recent sale of Sterling Publishing to Hachette Book Group was a strategic move to help finance this ambitious rollout.

Daunt also reiterated the possibility of an eventual IPO for Barnes & Noble and Waterstones, though such a move remains speculative. The two companies have little operational overlap beyond sharing a CEO. However, Daunt noted ongoing efforts to unify their IT and finance systems, a step toward greater synergy between the brands.

With brick-and-mortar bookstores seeing a resurgence, Barnes & Noble’s continued expansion signals confidence in the future of physical retail—an encouraging sign for book lovers and industry watchers alike.

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