Hello, and welcome to 500 Words.

It didn't seem that long ago that the experts said that nobody would buy physical books anymore. Well, Barnes & Noble is thriving, on track to open 58 new stores this year. That's the fastest pace the company has set for openings since 2009. Physical books are winning in the age of social media, aided *by* social media, like Facebook, TikTok and the popular #booktok hashtag. The new Barnes & Noble stores will be coming to New Orleans, Northbook, IL, Conroe, TX, Santa Fe, NM, Fayette, KY, and Santa Monica, CA, among other places.