This is a list of bookstore chains with brick-and-mortar locations.
In the United Kingdom and many parts of the English speaking world, they are known as "Bookshops" and "newsagents".
In American English, they are called "bookstores", or sometimes "newsstands", as they also usually carry newspapers and magazines. This list includes both current and defunct businesses, and also includes large independent bookstores that have multiple locations, but that use a different business model than most business chains.
| Name | Country | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Collins Booksellers[1] | |||
| Rahva Raamat[2] | |||
| [3] | |||
| ("The Finnish Bookstore")[4] | |||
| 78 stores with book departments in France, 65 in 8 other countries | |||
| 34 book-department-stores | |||
| includes Weltbild Plus, Weltbild, Weltbild best, Jokers, Wohlthat (circa 350-400 shops) | |||
| part of the UK Waterstone's brand | |||
| former chain, still exists as a stand-alone store | |||
| operates Tsutaya Bookstores[5] | |||
| Valters un Rapa[6] | |||
| operates MPH Bookstores | |||
| 28 bookstores[7] | |||
| Operates Amsterdamsche Kiosk Onderneming (AKO), Bruna, and Read Shop | |||
| small independent chain | |||
| owned by Waterstones since 2022 | |||
| owned by Waterstones since 2018 | |||
| Locations across all 50 US states (614 stores). | |||
| former college division of B&N spun off in 2015 (760 stores). | |||
| Former large chain acquired by B&N in 1987; location now in Florida (1 store). | |||
| Located in Arizona (5 stores). | |||
| Locations across 32 US states (260 stores). Also operates Bookland and 2nd & Charles. | |||
| Located in the Washington metropolitan area (8 locations) | |||
| Utah regional chain; also operates Seagull Book. | |||
| Locations across 19 US states (120 stores). | |||
| Located at airports and train stations in the United States and Canada (970 stores). | |||
| Located in Oregon (4 stores). | |||
| Located in Maine (9 stores) | |||
| Located in Michigan (4 stores). | |||
| Located in Colorado (4 stores); acquired by B&N in 2024. |
The following chains no longer operate any physical retail locations.
| Name | Country | Notes | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Closed physical stores in 2011. | |||
| defunct | |||
| defunct[8] | |||
| bankrupt, and name changed to Bandi & Luni's when re-opened | |||
| defunct in December 2009 | |||
| all stores were rebranded as Waterstones in 1999 | |||
| bought out by HMV, rebranded as Waterstones in 2006 | |||
| physical stores closed in 2022 | |||
| defunct 2011 | |||
| physical stores closed in 2012; continued as online retailer | |||
| acquired by Waldenbooks and merged with Borders; defunct 2011 | |||
| defunct 2001 | |||
| defunct 1999 | |||
| physical stores closed in 2017; online retailer since 2019 | |||
| defunct 2016 | |||
| Chicago regional chain; defunct 1995 | |||
| physical stores closed 2019; continued as online retailer | |||
| defunct 2006 | |||
| acquired by Kmart and merged with Borders; defunct 2011 |