Brentano's
Encyclopedia
Brentano's was an American bookstore. In addition to the numerous locations in the United States, there was a Brentano's on Avenue de l'Opéra
in Paris, at the same location for 114 years.
Brentano's became a part of the Waldenbooks
subsidiary of Borders Group
, Inc., an Ann Arbor, Michigan
-based book and music retailer.
in New York City in 1853 by August Brentano
, who established a newsstand in front of the New York Hotel. From its headquarters at 586 Fifth Avenue, Brentano's became a publisher, with a specialization in French literature that led it to publish under the imprint "Éditions Brentano's" many titles by French writers in exile during the Vichy France
period.
In 1985, Kmart
's Waldenbooks
subsidiary acquired Brentano's and nine years later, in 1994, Brentano's and its parent company Waldenbooks were merged into Kmart's other book subsidiary, Borders. Borders re-gained independence through a stock buyback in the mid 1990s to once again become an independent company known as Borders Group
, Inc.; in 2011, Borders Group filed for bankruptcy and wound down operations, closing all remaining locations.
Avenue de l'Opéra
The Avenue de l'Opéra is a Haussmanian avenue situated in the centre of Paris, France. It runs from the Louvre to the Palais Garnier, which was Paris's main opera until it was replaced by the Opéra Bastillein 1989....
in Paris, at the same location for 114 years.
Brentano's became a part of the Waldenbooks
Waldenbooks
Waldenbooks , operated by the Walden Book Company, Inc., was an American shopping mall-based bookstore chain and a subsidiary of Borders Group. The chain also ran a video game and software chain under the name Waldensoftware as well as a children's edutainment chain under Walden Kids...
subsidiary of Borders Group
Borders Group
Borders Group, Inc. was an international book and music retailer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company employed approximately 19,500 throughout the U.S., primarily in its Borders and Waldenbooks stores....
, Inc., an Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
-based book and music retailer.
History
Brentano's was founded as an independent bookstoreIndependent bookstore
An independent bookstore is a retail bookstore which is independently owned.-Literary and countercultural history:Author events at independent bookstores sometimes take the role of literary salons. The bookstores themselves, "have historically supported and cultivated the work of independent...
in New York City in 1853 by August Brentano
August Brentano
August Brentano was a New York City newspaper dealer who was born in Hohenems, Austria. He came to New York in 1851 and started a business as a newspaper carrier. Before coming there he opened a large stand at the Revere House in Boston, Massachusetts. Afterward Brentano ran a store at 636 Broadway...
, who established a newsstand in front of the New York Hotel. From its headquarters at 586 Fifth Avenue, Brentano's became a publisher, with a specialization in French literature that led it to publish under the imprint "Éditions Brentano's" many titles by French writers in exile during the Vichy France
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
period.
In 1985, Kmart
Kmart
Kmart, sometimes styled as "K-Mart," is a chain of discount department stores. The chain acquired Sears in 2005, forming a new corporation under the name Sears Holdings Corporation. The company was founded in 1962 and is the third largest discount store chain in the world, behind Wal-Mart and...
's Waldenbooks
Waldenbooks
Waldenbooks , operated by the Walden Book Company, Inc., was an American shopping mall-based bookstore chain and a subsidiary of Borders Group. The chain also ran a video game and software chain under the name Waldensoftware as well as a children's edutainment chain under Walden Kids...
subsidiary acquired Brentano's and nine years later, in 1994, Brentano's and its parent company Waldenbooks were merged into Kmart's other book subsidiary, Borders. Borders re-gained independence through a stock buyback in the mid 1990s to once again become an independent company known as Borders Group
Borders Group
Borders Group, Inc. was an international book and music retailer based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The company employed approximately 19,500 throughout the U.S., primarily in its Borders and Waldenbooks stores....
, Inc.; in 2011, Borders Group filed for bankruptcy and wound down operations, closing all remaining locations.