Barnes & Noble Is Opening 60 New Stores, Is Maine On The List?

Thanks to TikTok, books are back!

Back in the day, there used to be something so comforting about hanging around a record store, a Blockbuster, or browsing for books, so it is fairly stunning that one of these "old timey" traditions is making a huge comeback.

Barnes & Noble has had an incredible resurgence over the last few years. In 2024, they opened new 57 stores, and the plan is to open 60 more in the United States in 2025.

After years of downsizing, closing over 150 locations, they are suddenly hot again, due to TikTok’s #BookTok community.

BookTok is a community of TikTok users who share their love of books and literature. They make videos about books they've read, including reviews, discussions, and memes.

Also, after years of isolation, due to the pandemic in 2020, "Third Spaces" are all the rage. These are spaces outside of the home and workplace where people can connect with others.

They are often informal and public, and can be a place to relax, share thoughts, and have fun. What sums that up better than a bookstore?

In addtion to binge watching TV shows, Covid also made young people pick up physical books and read again, which in the digital age, is pretty remarkable!

Here in Bangor, Books-A-Million moved to a new location in early 2024. The store was previously located at 116 Bangor Mall Blvd, and now resides at 490 Stillwater Ave, in the former Bed, Bath & Beyond space.

Do we have room for another one? That is the question, and as of right now, the following states are set to have brand new Barnes & Noble stores this year:

California
Florida
Colorado
Texas
Washington
Pennsylvania
Ohio
Virgina
New York
Nebraska
Michigan
Illinois
Connecticut
Arizona
New Hampshire
Maryland
Kansas

In Maine, there are 3 locations in Augusta, South Portland, and Brunswick, but what about Bangor, Ellsworth, Waterville, or Presque Isle?

They currently have 37 signed leases for new stores in 2025, and many more in the works, so the question is, does another Maine location make the cut? Only time will tell.