Barnes & Noble, the largest U.S. brick-and-mortar bookseller, announced Tuesday it will buy Joseph-Beth’s locations in Lexington and Cincinnati.
The sale price was not disclosed.
Joseph-Beth opened its first store at Lexington Green in 1986 and eventually expanded to nine locations. The bookstore still anchors the iconic property off Nicholasville Road.
Barnes & Noble and Langley Properties, the owner of Lexington Green, said the Lexington and Cincinnati stores and their cafes would maintain their current identity.
“We especially look forward to welcoming the booksellers of these two distinctive bookstores into the company,” said James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble.
Langley Properties also owns office space in Lexington and retail properties in four other Southern states.
“This decision was made for the continued success of Joseph-Beth Booksellers,” Lexington Green owner Robert Langley said. “For 40 years, Joseph-Beth has been more than a bookstore. It has been a gathering place for readers, families, local authors, teachers and neighbors.”
Barnes & Noble opened a new store in August at nearby Fayette Mall. A new Louisville store is also planned to open soon, one of 60 such chain openings planned for this year.
Retail bookstores have struggled since the rise of Amazon and internet sales. Kentucky chain Hawley-Cooke was acquired by Borders in 2003. Barnes & Noble later bought Borders.
