Barnes & Noble Acquires Joseph-Beth Booksellers, Third Indie Chain Purchase Under CEO James Daunt
Barnes & Noble is set to take over the Joseph-Beth Booksellers locations situated in The Mall at Lexington Green, Lexington, Kentucky, and Rookwood Pavilion, Cincinnati, Ohio. This acquisition represents B&N's third purchase of an independent bookstore under the leadership of CEO James Daunt, following the acquisitions of Denver's Tattered Cover in 2024 and Bay Area's Books Inc. in 2025. Robert Langley, the owner of Joseph-Beth, indicated that the sale was crucial for the company's future. Established in 1986, Joseph-Beth grew by acquiring four Davis-Kidd stores in 1997 but encountered difficulties due to Amazon and the rise of superstores, resulting in bankruptcy in 2011. B&N intends to keep the Joseph-Beth name and staff while updating its operations, with Daunt highlighting the need for continuity in these bookstores.
Key facts
- Barnes & Noble has reached a deal to buy both locations of Joseph-Beth Booksellers.
- The two stores and bistros are at The Mall at Lexington Green in Lexington, Kentucky, and Rookwood Pavilion in Cincinnati, Ohio.
- Joseph-Beth is the third independent bookstore business B&N has acquired since James Daunt became CEO.
- B&N bought Denver's Tattered Cover, which had filed for bankruptcy, in 2024, and the Bay Area's Books Inc. the following year.
- Robert Langley is owner and chairman of Joseph-Beth and owner of Langley Properties, proprietor of The Mall at Lexington Green.
- Joseph-Beth was founded in 1986 by Neil and Mary Beth Van Uum.
- After taking over four Davis-Kidd Booksellers stores in Tennessee in 1997, Joseph-Beth owned seven large bookstores; it filed for bankruptcy in 2011 and Langley Properties bought the two current stores at auction.
- B&N said Joseph-Beth Booksellers and Bronte Bistro will continue in their current locations with booksellers, author event team, community and event programming and servers continuing.
Entities
Artists
- James Daunt
- Robert Langley
- Neil Van Uum
- Mary Beth Van Uum
Institutions
- Barnes & Noble
- Joseph-Beth Booksellers
- Bronte Bistro
- Tattered Cover
- Books Inc.
- Davis-Kidd Booksellers
- Langley Properties
- The Mall at Lexington Green
- Rookwood Pavilion
- Amazon
- Publishers Weekly
Locations
- Lexington
- Kentucky
- Cincinnati
- Ohio
- Denver
- Colorado
- Bay Area
- California
- Tennessee
- United States