Barnes & Noble reopened in Carrollwood as part of its national comeback
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Barnes & Noble opened a new store in Carrollwood Wednesday, part of an unexpected push to launch dozens of new locations this year.
Why it matters: Reading and brick-and-mortar bookshops are experiencing a revival, thanks in large part to TikTok.
State of play: The new bookstore in the Palms of Carrollwood Shopping Center marks Barnes & Noble's return to the enclave, around eight months after its 28-year-old location closed.
- Barnes & Noble started opening stores in a big way last year to meet the growing demand for them, the bookseller told Fast Company.
Yacob's thought bubble: The new location is spacious, with a sleek layout that finally gives nonfiction the space it deserves.
Zoom in: The company credits #BookTok, the thriving community of book-lovers sharing recommendations on TikTok, with the renewed interest in reading, "especially among young people."
- BookTok has also helped fuel the surge in interest in the Romantasy (romance fantasy) sub-genre, propelling titles like "Onyx Storm" and "A Court of Thorns and Roses" to bestsellers lists.
- But the social sharing has also driven renewed interest in reading the classics, like "1984," "The Great Gatsby" and "To Kill a Mockingbird."
The bottom line: Reading is cool again.