Anyone remember when Old Navy used to just sell clothing & apparel? Then they gradually placed their accessory section closer to the checkout section - then they gradually replaced that section with useless made in china crap like water bottles and frisbees - and now the entire front of the checkout section is a swath of useless novelties and crap and junkfood that's unrelated to the theme of the store that one could essentially buy from any drug store?! I imagine that's what an Amazon "boutique" would look and feel like.

Amazon has got to be aware that they are almost solely responsible for the death of mainstream retail bookstores nationwide (well, Amazon and the internet in general). They, of all people, know that the brick-and-mortar bookstore is a doomed business model. This rumor is completely senseless.

@2:
I'd say Barnes & Noble is more responsible for that.
How soon we forget the 90s when they were the evil ones destroying book culture.

Sounds like a winning concept. Maybe the US Post should follow their lead and set up special areas at the post office where customers can come in with their laptops and send emails.

I applaud it. I used to spend 2-3 hours a week in book stores browsing. While amazon's recommendation engine is very good; I like to browse books by spine and cover. Barnes and Noble's selection has become excessively bland. I mostly enjoy small, well though out independent book stores nowadays.

I can also see another great advantage: free shipping to your local store.

Amazon is a massive co-op, that also includes an impressive worldwide distribution chain.

I would expect that their stores eventually resemble Walmart and that this is a first step in that direction.

THINK. Why would they be thinking so small? Has Amazon EVER been simply an online book seller?

Jesus...any more small minded and you'd be related to a goldfish.

@5 - If Barnes & Noble's selection has gotten too bland for you, don't blame it, blame yourself. You and countless others have used B&N as your showroom and then you went home and ordered the books you just spent "2-3 hours a week" fondling and leaving in a heap for B&N employees to pick up and re-shelve. You devalued the B&N books and wasted B&N employee time--which could have been better used helping paying customers. Oh, sure, maybe you bought one or two things at B&N, maybe a coffee or a cold drink that you spilled on B&N merchandise, further costing the company money. Oh, but you got your books cheaper at Amazon and you were happy.

Now, Barnes & Nobles can't afford to carry a larger selection that you only look at and never buy and than makes you unhappy. You are also probably one of those assholes that expects to be waited on extensively by B&N employees and now you are pissed off that staffing has been cut back due to lack of revenue BECAUSE YOU NEVER BUY ANYTHING THERE. Barnes & Noble is a business, not the public library, despite what most people think and how they treat the stores, their people and merchandise. If there isn't profit, then books and services get cut, duhhhhhhhhhh. So, remember that when you congratulate yourself on taking advantage of Barnes & Noble. When stores start closing you have no one to blame but yourself. Then, when there are only independent bookstores left, those will close too and you will be left with an Amazon monopoly and gee, then Brazos can charge you full price for your books.

@7 : Yes, B&N is a business, just not a terribly interesting one. #5's comments were about how bland B&N's selection is and, unfortunately, its *always* been that way. #5 is right, small independent bookstores are much more interesting than B&N. And no, I dont shop at Amazon either, because Jeff Bezos can go eat a bag of dick.

@7--
Wait... Poor Barnes & Noble?
Ugh.

Is this some case of the enemy-of-my-enemy?

I know the 90s are getting further and further away, but, I mean, people hated B&N for what they did to indie bookstores. They made a movie about it, with that Bosom Buddies guy and AOL or something.

I understand the dislike/hatred of Amazon, but I am having serious trouble with the rationale of 'poor Barnes & Noble.'

With Amazon taking out Borders, Waldenbooks, and maybe B&N some day, maybe there will actually be room enough again for indie bookstores to thrive.