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Barnes & Noble Founder Leonard Riggio Dead at 83
August 28, 2024
Leonard Riggio, the man behind Barnes & Noble, one of the largest bookstores in the United States, has died at age 83.
According to Publishing Perspectives, Riggio’s family says he died “following a valiant battle with Alzheimer’s disease.” A Barnes & Noble Instagram post memorialized the groundbreaking businessman.
The memorial statement reads, “We are deeply saddened to share the passing of Leonard Riggio, the founder and former chairman of Barnes & Noble, Inc., on August 27, 2024, at the age of 83. Len’s vision and entrepreneurial spirit transformed the retail landscape, establishing Barnes & Noble as the largest bookstore chain in the U.S.”
The statement continued, “His leadership spanned decades, during which he not only grew the company but also nurtured a culture of innovation and a love for reading. A true son of New York, public servant, and tireless advocate for public education, literacy, and the arts, he supported organizations such as the Children’s Defense Fund, the Anti-Defamation League and DIA. We honor his remarkable contributions and extend our deepest condolences to his family. Len will be greatly missed by all who knew him.”
A company page dedicated to the retail chain’s history explained Riggio’s overall vision for what would become a comfortable place for book lovers to browse and purchase new books. It says, “In the early 1990s, Mr. Riggio came up with the concept of the ‘superstore,’ which helped revolutionize bookselling by combining a vast and deep selection of book titles with an experienced bookselling staff as well as a warm, comfortable and spacious atmosphere. The stores offered a comprehensive inventory of books, music, educational toys and games and gifts.”
Beyond creating Barnes & Noble, Riggio created a separate chain of campus bookstores that he sold to Barnes & Noble along with the wholesale distributor MBS Textbook Exchange. He also helmed the video game and software retailer GameStop.
Riggio is survived by his wife Louise, his brother Stephen, three daughters, grandchildren, nieces, and a nephew.
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