New York, NY – September 15, 2026 — Barnes & Noble, Inc. has signed an agreement with Joseph-Beth Booksellers for the acquisition of their two bookstores and bistros located at The Mall at Lexington Green in Lexington, Ky. and Rookwood Pavilion in Cincinnati, Ohio. Joseph-Beth Booksellers will preserve its independent identity.
“This decision was made for the continued success of Joseph-Beth Booksellers. 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. In honoring its importance to the communities its two stores serve and to support its future longevity, this decision was necessary,” said Robert Langley, owner of Joseph-Beth Booksellers and The Mall at Lexington Green.
Joseph-Beth Booksellers and Bronte Bistro will continue to serve Lexington and Cincinnati in their current locations. Their booksellers, author event team, community and event programming and servers will continue on course with the added benefit of Barnes & Noble’s resources and modernized operations supporting Joseph-Beth Booksellers’ brand and ongoing success.
“Joseph-Beth Booksellers has a storied history and wonderful bookstores, and we are very pleased to ensure their continuity,” said James Daunt, CEO of Barnes & Noble. “We especially look forward to welcoming the booksellers of these two distinctive bookstores into the company.”
Barnes & Noble remains committed to serving local communities with excellent bookstores and promoting literacy. They are looking forward to preserving what has made Joseph-Beth Booksellers so special within the bookselling landscape for the last 40 years.