Rumors have ignited that Amazon may launch hundreds of brick-and-mortar bookstores. The online retailer’s first shop, located at Seattle’s University Village shopping center, opened its doors in late 2015.
The Wall Street Journal reports that Sandeep Mathrani, chief executive of General Growth Properties, publicly stated that Amazon could possibly open 300 to 400 bookstores. At this point in time, no announcement has been made by Amazon executives.
Here’s more from The New York Times: “Even if Amazon is not planning to go nationwide with its stores anytime soon, any expansion of its brick-and-mortar presence is likely to send shivers down the spines of other booksellers. Amazon’s success as an online retailer of physical and electronic books has already devastated chains like Borders and seriously wounded Barnes & Noble. Independent booksellers, though, are seeing sales growth in many parts of the country, showing how reluctant some book fans have been to give up browsing store shelves.” (via BuzzFeed)
