thumb|Books-A-Million in [[Houston Pavilions, Downtown Houston]]
thumb|The Books-A-Million store at [[Sawgrass Mills, Sunrise, Florida]]
Books-A-Million, Inc., also known as BAM!, is a bookstore chain in the United States, operating 260 stores in 32 states. Stores range in size from 4,000 to 30,000 square feet and sell books, magazines, manga, collectibles, toys, technology, and gifts.
The company owns Yogurt Mountain Holding, a frozen yogurt retailer and franchisor with 40 locations, as well as Preferred Growth Properties, which develops and manages commercial real estate investments.
History
Books-A-Million was founded in 1917 in Florence, Alabama, Anderson saw a business opportunity after workers on the nearby Wilson Dam complained that they could not get their hometown newspapers.
In 1950, Charles C. Anderson, the founder's son, inherited the store and expanded it into a chain.
In 1998, the company launched its website, booksamillion.com.
In 1999, the company acquired NetCentral, the designer of its website, and began operating American Wholesale Book Company, a book wholesaler and distributor. Six months later, the company opened Yogurt Mountain locations in its bookstores.
In September 2010, the company launched 2nd & Charles, a trader of used media, with its first store in Hoover, Alabama across from Riverchase Galleria.
In December 2015, the company was acquired by its chairman, Clyde B. Anderson, and his family, for $21 million, taking the company private and delisting its shares from the Nasdaq.
In November 2016, the company began to sell self-published books.
See also
- Barnes & Noble
- Borders