Barbara's Bookstore to open shops within Macy's stores in Massachusetts

According to the Boston Business Journal, Chicago-based independent bookstore chain Barbara's Bookstore, which has operated a full-service bookstore inside Macy's flagship Chicago department since 2003, will open bookstore boutiques in Macy's locations throughout Massachusetts. (One Barbara's Bookstore is already operating in the Boston South Station Macy's.) A new bookstore will be added to Macy's Downtown Crossing store, as well as stores in Hyannis, Holyoke and North Attelboro, MA, with plans to eventually open more locations. One reason for Macy's and Barbara's Bookstore's expansion of their partnership is the closure of Borders' stores and other bookstores near Macy's locations. (It's not out of the question that if the Massachusetts experiment is successful, Macy's could acquire Barbara's Bookstore and expand its in-store bookstores more widely throughout its stores.)