Barnes and Noble to close more stores

Bridgewater, NJ -- Over the past 10 years, Barnes and Noble has been closing between 15 to 20 stores across the country due to sagging print prices and an increase in e-books, according to goodreader.com.

Barnes and Noble only plans to close 10 stores in 2016, according to a recent financial report.

The bookstore chain currently operates more than 647 bookstores in the United States and has 442 leases up for renewal by April 20, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The head of PR at B&N Mary Ellen Keating said “442 leases have been extended, except for 30 closings,” according to goodreader.com.

However, the the former B&N retail group CEO Mitchell Klipper said the bookseller plans to have 450 stores by 2022 and stressed that the company’s management “is fully committed to the retail concept for the long term,” according to goodreader.com.

Looking at the math, if Barnes and Noble has 647 stores and only plans to have 450 by 2022 then they would have to close down 197 stores in the next six years.

There is no word on which stores will be closed. Locally Barnes and Noble stores can be found in Bridgewater on Route 202/206 or Clark on Raritan Road or Springfield on Route 22.

(Photo, Barnes and Noble: Bridgewater location)