Placer.ai: Barnes & Nobles continues hot streak as visits rise in 2025

Barnes & Noble is continuing its post-pandemic success as it continues to attract store visits while planning to grow its footprint.

From January to August of this year, the bookstore giant saw visits increase notably compared to the year prior, according to a recent report from retailer foot traffic data firm Placer.ai. Year-over-year increases were the highest in January (15.5%), May (10.2%), April (9.8%) and March (9.4%). With the exception of February, visits per location also increased year over year each month.

Placer.ai highlighted the fact that Barnes & Noble is not only planning to open new stores this year, but it has also made key acquisitions of smaller, independent bookstore chains. Barnes & Noble first acquired Colorado chain Tattered Cover in 2023, and acquired California-based Books Inc. just last month.

Location analytics reveal meaningful differences in customer behavior at Barnes & Noble and Books Inc. At a Barnes & Noble in Redwood City, Calif., 65.1% of visitors stayed more than 15 minutes, compared to 57.2% at a Books Inc. just 5.5 miles away in Palo Alto. Placer.ai says that longer visits reflect the success of Barnes & Noble’s experiential approach – stores designed not just for quick purchases, but for browsing, discovery and lingering.

Placer.ai: Barnes & Nobles continues hot streak as visits rise in 2025 | Chain Store Age

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