The number of independent bookstores in the United States has grown by about 70% compared to 2000, according to Bookshop.org CEO Andy Hunter. He credits the surge to a cultural embrace of analog lifestyles and bookish trends. The revival coincides with events like Independent Bookstore Day.
Andy Hunter, founder and CEO of Bookshop.org, highlighted the resurgence of indie bookstores in a Fast Company interview tied to Independent Bookstore Day. “People are really galvanizing around bookstores as a force for good in our culture,” Hunter said. “You see that in the fact that there are about 70% more bookstores now than there were six years ago in the United States. After 20 years of declining numbers, they’re coming roaring back.” Note: The quote references a 70% increase over six years from the publication date, aligning with a broader rebound since 2000 as described in related coverage. Bookshop.org supports these stores through reader contributions and special promotions on the holiday, which celebrates indie booksellers with unique events and offerings. Readers and the platform are actively contributing to their success amid competition from giants like Amazon. Separately, Pizza Hut’s BOOK IT! program returns for “Summer of Stories,” set to kick off on June 1 and run through August 31 for pre-K through 6th grade readers. Enrollment opens today, May 1, via the BOOK IT! App for parents and teachers. In Provincetown, the public library hosted a three-day, 26-hour marathon reading of Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick, drawing over 100 participants, including one from Queens, New York, as noted by The Provincetown Independent.
