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Indie Membership Hits 1990s High Amid B&N Expansion

5/29/2026

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Story summary
  • Independent bookstore membership rose to 3,417, highest since late 1990s, as Double Dog Bookshop opened in 2025 and later added a Wentzville, Missouri location.
  • Barnes & Noble opened 100 stores in two years, though CEO James Daunt says taking business from independents is not in his DNA.
  • Chicago indie stores including Volume Books blame the new Barnes & Noble for closures, while Book Loft Oak Park hopes to draw customers.