Join our Waitlist for Expert Advice!

Amazon's Brick-and-Mortar Bookstore Is Coming to New York Though the company built its name on ecommerce, Amazon's expanding chain of stores is a sign that it understands the value of a physical presence.

By Nina Zipkin

Eric Broder Van Dyke | Shutterstock

It's been a while since Amazon was known solely for selling books. But after commissioning award-winning television series and developing a fleet of drones, the ecommerce giant has decided to go back to its roots in recent years -- sort of.

In a move that seemed like the height of irony to anyone who has worked at a Barnes and Noble, Borders or an indie book shop, in 2015, the ecommerce giant opened its first brick-and-mortar book store, Amazon Books, in Seattle.

Locations in Portland, Ore., and San Diego, followed, and storefronts in Dedham, Mass., and Chicago are coming later this year. But first, New York City is going to get an Amazon Books of its own.

Related: Is Amazon's First Brick-and-Mortar Bookstore the Future of Retail?

The inventory of an Amazon Books is very specific. The books for sale are ones that have been given four- or five-star ratings on the website. The stores also act as showrooms for proprietary Amazon gadgets, giving customers the chance to try out items before they decide to purchase them.

The New York store will be at the Shops at Columbus Circle, a mall housed in the Time Warner Center in Manhattan, near Central Park. A Borders store previously located there closed in 2011.

The new space should feel like home to Amazon -- one of the neighboring storefronts belongs to fellow Washington State native Microsoft.

Nina Zipkin

Entrepreneur Staff

Staff Writer. Covers leadership, media, technology and culture.

Nina Zipkin is a staff writer at Entrepreneur.com. She frequently covers leadership, media, tech, startups, culture and workplace trends.

Want to be an Entrepreneur Leadership Network contributor? Apply now to join.

Business Solutions

Simplify Complex Projects and Keep Teams Aligned With Microsoft Project for $18

Stay on track, on budget, and on time with powerful project management software.

Marketing

How to Make Consistent Passive Income With Your Online Course — Follow These 5 Steps

An evergreen sales expert's guide to selling courses while you sleep.

Business News

Jack Dorsey Tells Tidal Staff About Another Round of Mass Layoffs in Leaked Note: 'Much Smaller Team'

The memo didn't specify how many people would be let go, but insiders estimate that about a quarter of staff, or 100 employees, could be affected.

Growing a Business

How to Scale Your Startup Without Losing Your Company's Soul

The journey from startup to successful global brand is often idealized, but most businesses face significant challenges and high failure rates. To scale effectively, leaders must maintain a strong foundation, foster a coaching culture and strategically manage growth while adapting to changing market conditions.

Growing a Business

How to Effectively Manage Intangible Assets for Long-Term Business Success

Intangible assets, unlike physical ones, may evolve to a point where the business objective no longer has the capacity to utilize them effectively. This evolution triggers the need for transformation, potentially turning an intangible asset into a product for sale.

Money & Finance

The Government Is Forcing Business Owners to Share Personal Data or Get Fined $10,000 — So Why Don't More People Know About It?

The Treasury Department wants to know who owns your business, and the smaller your business, the more attention you should pay.