B. Dalton Bookstore - #12
Founded in 1966 by Bruce Dayton (a member of the Dayton department store family), the name B. Dalton was chosen because it "connoted quality, dependability and authority." Although the chain was originally intended to operate in downtowns and suburban areas, the majority of the stores were opened inside regional shopping malls.
B. Dalton grew to become the largest seller of hardcover books in the United States. At its peak, the chain had 779 stores open.
As a result of the declining profits, Dayton Hudson Corporation sold the B. Dalton chain to Barnes & Noble in 1987. Under Barnes & Noble's ownership, B. Dalton acquired Scribner Book Stores, Inc. from Rizzoli International Bookstores in 1989, and began a video game store called Software, Etc. (now GameStop). At the same time, the chain began closing outlets and relocating others, while opening other prototypes. By 1997, the chain had shrunk to 528 locations. (Ghosts of Retailers Past Wiki) All of the B. Dalton locations were closed by January of 2010.
For some strange and unknown reason, Barnes & Noble rebranded their Oveido Mall (FL) store to B. Dalton reviving the brand with a 1 store presence. RIP? Or are more coming?
