Well yes, Riggio made it a national chain. Thats clear But there was a Barnes and a Noble. (I imagine them looking like the Smith brothers from the cough drops ). And I agree about it not being karma, just business evolution.

All the book chains have gone the way of the dinosaur- B Dalton, Waldenbooks. Oddly, the UK chain Waterstone's is doing well.


I always enjoyed the independent stores more. Shakespeare and Co on Broadway was a personal favorite, Three Lives in tbe Village is still hanging in, and so is the Strand which is bibliophile heaven.