Will There Still Be Bookstores in Twenty Years?
Bricks-and-mortar bookstores offer benefits we need to appreciate
I once asked a friend, “Do you think bookstores will be around in twenty years?”
His answer was instantaneous: “No.”
Every time I pass a bookstore now, I think of him being so sure, and seemingly not very upset, at the thought of a world without bookstores.
Myself? I don’t like the idea at all.
How many bookstores are there?
Getting an accurate picture of the number of bookstores worldwide would require some serious data-crunching in an industry that’s not known for sharing its secrets. Better numbers are available for the number of stores per country.
In Australia, sources say there are 1,670 bookstores in business in 2024 (a number that’s down slightly from 2023). According to the U.S. Census, in 2020 there were 10,800 booksellers in America. The sizes of those stores range from the large chain stores such as Barnes & Noble to small independent stores.
Recent news stories have happily proclaimed that there’s been a surge in the number of independent bookstores in operation, but the 10,800 bookstore number still reflects a decline from the 16,819 bookstores…