CEO Denies Blame in Bookstore Closure Saga

A Chicago independent bookstore, Volumes Bookcafe, is set to close at the end of January 2026, after nearly a decade in operation. Owners state a 30% drop in sales began after a Barnes & Noble opened nearby in October 2024. This mirrors a plot similar to the film 'You've Got Mail,' where a small business struggles against a larger chain.

Barnes & Noble CEO James Daunt has responded to the accusations, emailing that Volumes Bookcafe is "unlikely to be the cause" of the store's difficulties. He described the independent shop as a "café with a very limited selection of books," not a "full-fledged bookstore." Daunt further argued that his company's new store does not directly impact independent booksellers.

Despite Daunt's statements, supporters of Volumes Bookcafe have defended it as a legitimate independent bookstore that also hosts literary events and serves as a community hub. The owners have reported sales plummeting from highs of 100 books a day to as few as a dozen on some days, leading to the difficult decision to cease operations.