ABA says 605 independent bookstores opened in 2025 as membership grew 19%

By AI, Created 10:11 PM UTC, May 28, 2026, /AGP/ – The American Booksellers Association says 2025 brought steady growth for independent bookstores even as the sector faced tariffs, higher fees and free-expression fights. The annual report says 605 new stores opened, membership rose 19%, and Indie Bookstore Day and Winter Institute both set records.

Why it matters: - Independent bookstores kept expanding in 2025 despite rising costs and policy pressure across the retail and publishing landscape. - The American Booksellers Association says the results show continued demand for local bookstores and the role they play in supporting authors, readers and community access to books. - ABA also framed 2025 as a year when indie bookstores pushed back against book bans, school budget cuts and threats to the right to read.

What happened: - The American Booksellers Association released its 2025 annual report on May 28, 2026. - ABA said 605 independent bookstores opened in the U.S. in 2025. - ABA membership grew 19%. - For the fifth straight year, more than 200 independent bookstores opened in the U.S. - ABA said the report highlights its 2025 achievements, membership growth, support efforts and increased diversity across the indie bookstore channel.

The details: - The 2025 openings included 81 BIPOC-owned stores, 45 Black-owned stores, 106 pop-ups and 77 mobile stores. - ABA said independent bookstores continue to reflect the diversity of readers, communities and store models in the channel. - Winter Institute 2025 sold out in under an hour. - ABA said Winter Institute 2025 was the biggest conference in the organization’s history, with more than 900 booksellers attending. - 39% of Winter Institute attendees were first-time participants. - Indie Bookstore Day 2025 was the largest national celebration of independent bookstores to date. - 1,645 stores participated from all 50 states and U.S. territories. - Indie Bookstore Day 2025 ran opposite Amazon’s Book Sale and became a consumer advocacy campaign focused on shopping indie and local. - ABA said its 2025 advocacy work directly addressed rising costs, escalating swipe fees, changing tariff policies, free expression challenges and Amazon’s market power. - ABA is a not-for-profit trade association supporting more than 3,400 independent bookstores with nearly 3,800 locations nationwide.

Between the lines: - The store-opening numbers suggest the indie channel is still growing even as margins stay under pressure. - The size of Winter Institute and Indie Bookstore Day points to a stronger organizing base for ABA and its members. - The focus on diversity, local economics and access to books shows ABA is positioning independent bookstores as both retail businesses and civic institutions. - Allison Hill, ABA CEO, said independent bookstores counter school budget cuts, book challenges and legislation that threatens the right to read, while also helping readers find diverse and debut authors.

What’s next: - ABA is likely to keep tying member growth and advocacy to the broader fight over access, pricing pressure and market concentration. - The association’s 2026 efforts will likely build on the momentum from Winter Institute, Indie Bookstore Day and the continued rise in new store openings. - Independent bookstores will keep facing pressure from tariffs, swipe fees, book challenges and Amazon’s influence.

The bottom line: - ABA’s latest report shows independent bookstores are still opening, growing and mobilizing, even as the sector faces some of its toughest structural challenges.