Barbara's Bookstores on the Move

by Claire Kirch, PW Daily -- Publishers Weekly, 4/25/2007

One week after Barbara's Bookstores owner Don Barliant announced that, in partnership with the Hudson Group, he has entered into a seven-year agreement to operate five locations at Chicago's O'Hare airport, the Barbara's Books location at LaGuardia Airport in New York City has shut its doors. The Philadelphia International airport Barbara's store will remain open.

"The lease is up. In the past 10 years, competition has become extreme there. This will give us the opportunity to focus on O'Hare," Barliant explained, describing operations at both LaGuardia and Philadelphia airports as profitable. The six LaGuardia employees at the 1,200-square-foot store were offered positions at Chicagoland Barbara's stores, but none are making the move.

While declining to reveal specifics, Barliant said Barbara's will continue to move into new markets. According to Barliant, he's exploring the possibility of "expanding dramatically" the distribution of books into Macy's stores across the country.