Barnes and Noble CEO: 'The Odyssey' is Our Best-Selling Book

• Physical books and bookstores are experiencing a resurgence, driven by a renewed focus on creating enjoyable, community-centric retail spaces.
• Barnes & Noble's strategy involves empowering local store teams, removing non-book items, and offering complementary products like vinyl records and toys.
• Gen Z is showing significant engagement with reading, including classics and popular new genres like 'romantasy,' contributing to increased foot traffic and sales.
• Barnes & Noble is actively expanding, opening over 60 new stores annually to serve communities previously underserved by closed book chains.

Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt discusses the improbable revival of physical bookstores, attributing it to a strategic shift towards community-focused stores, a curated selection of books and related items, and fostering a fun environment. He highlights strong Gen Z readership across various genres, including classics and 'romantasy,' and notes the company's expansion with new store openings, filling voids left by past closures.