Barnes & Noble opens another concept store in Hackensack, NJ today. The 19,111 square foot store replaces a larger Barnes & Noble in the The Shops at Riverside. Vice president of stores Carl Hauch cited the original store’s success as well as the mall’s multi-year renovation as reasons for the renewal. He said, “This is a proven market for us. There’s a great community of book lovers, and it’s a community we wanted to stay in. As the mall was looking to redevelop, we wanted to continue to be in the community for years and years to come.” Separately, American City […]
Archives for November 2018
Parneros v. Barnes & Noble Inches Forward
Judge John G. Koetl convened a pre-trial conference in the high-profile Parneros v. Barnes & Noble case Tuesday afternoon, which he kicked off by asking counsel to describe the case. Parneros’ attorney Anne Clark of Vladeck, Raskin & Clark rehashed the details of the original complaint before raising the possibility of a motion to dismiss Barnes & Noble’s counterclaims, saying they didn’t meet the court’s standards — and reiterated that the countersuit, along with the company’s press release when Parneros was fired, had made him unhirable according to headhunters. The judge was wary of dismissal, offering that “the existence of […]
Hachette Book Group Reorganizes Lines, Announces About 25 Layoffs As DiPreta Departs
Hachette Book Group ceo Michael Pietsch announced to staff on Tuesday “a reorganization…that will allow us to focus resources in areas where we see the greatest opportunities for continuing our growth.” The freestanding Hachette Books nonfiction line will become part of the Perseus Books division, reporting to Susan Weinberg, “to bring greater focus and impact to our publishing in this area.” Additionally, Da Capo Press, which had been one of the Perseus imprints, will become part of Hachette Books. The Da Capo name will be used for books about music and popular culture, and Da Capo Lifelong will be a […]
What’s Working: Delia Owens’ Fiction Debut
The WSJ takes a look at nonfiction writer Delia Owens’ bestselling debut novel, WHERE THE CRAWDADS SING. Now 69, Owens says she spent 10 years on the book, which was boosted to bestsellerdom a few weeks after its release on August 14 when Reese Witherspoon made it her September book club pick. “I’ve wanted to write fiction for many years, and I became determined to write a novel that would explore how isolation affects a person,” Owens told the Journal. Putnam says they have over 290,000 units so far across all formats. That’s a significantly different profile than what you see […]
People, Etc.
John Radziewicz, vp and publisher of Da Capo Press, is retiring on November 30. He has led Da Capo since 1999. Susan Weinberg, svp & publisher of Perseus Books, said in an announcement, “John’s commitment and work ethic have been outstanding, and we will miss his erudite emails, his witty sotto voce remarks, and his enthusiasm for his authors, his colleagues, our books and the business of publishing.” She also stated that “a succession plan is forthcoming.” Bria Sandford has been promoted to executive editor for Portfolio and editorial director of Sentinel. Leah Trouwborst has been promoted to editor of Portfolio/Sentinel. Eric […]
Obama Week, and More
In a press release Barnes & Noble hailed Michelle Obama’s BECOMING as the adult book with the most pre-orders at the chain since Harper Lee’s Go Set A Watchman in 2015. BN senior director of merchandising, trade books Liz Harwell says, “Our stores across the country are ready for huge demand … for what will likely be the biggest book of the season during what has been a blockbuster publishing calendar.” So far Joanna Gaines’ Magnolia Table and Michael Wolff’s Fire and Fury top the year’s print bestsellers, the only two titles with print sales of more than 1 million copies […]