CHAPTERS TO OPEN MEGA-BOOKSTORES
By Adnews Staff
The trend of retailers to open "superstores", has reached book stores in Canada. Chapters Inc., the book chain formed in the takeover of Coles Book Stores by SmithBooks last September plans to open three mega-bookstores by next spring. Two are scheduled for Ontario and one for British Columbia. the company hopes to put up 15 stores in two years. The mega-stores, which will feture live music along with cooking and crafts demonstrations, are an attempt to keep large American retailers from taking over the market as they expand into Canada. In related news, Starbucks Corp. of Seattle was chosen as the company to run cafes to be located inside Chapters stores. Starbucks beat out several other coffee companies, including two Canadian chains,Timothy's Coffees of the World and The Second Cup. Starbucks is also opening a dozen coffee bars in Toronto next year as it makes its first expansion in Canada outside of British Columbia.