Another Noble Venture

Barnes & Noble Inc., the New York-based bookseller, announces plans toopen a new superstore in Elizabethtown, Ky., in June 2002.

The 230,000 square-foot store will feature an Internet Service Counter,where customers can order books and products through the Barnes & Nobleweb site, plus have the items delivered to the customer's destination ofchoice. The retailer's new membership loyalty program, “Readers'Advantage,” will offer discounts and benefits at the new store. For a$25 yearly fee, members receive an additional 10 percent off booksbought in-store and a five percent discount for online purchases.

The new Kentucky store will carry a large selection of children's booksin an area designed just for kids. The music department will offer morethan 25,000 CDs, videos and DVDs. And a bistro-like cafŽ will serveStarbucks coffee, cappuccino, espresso, teas, sandwiches and desserts.

The bookseller operates 568 Barnes & Noble bookstores and 335 B. Daltonstores, and recently acquired Babbage's Etc. and Funco Inc. to make itthe nation's largest operator of video-game and entertainment-softwarestores.