Barnes & Noble continues on a buying spree. After indicating early last week that it will acquire Joseph-Beth Booksellers, it announced on Friday that it has bought Levenger, known for fine writing instruments, premium paper and stationery, leather goods, desk accessories and furniture, as well as Circa, its customizable discbound notebook system.
Founded in 1987 by Steve and Lori Leveen, Levenger has been privately held. B&N said that Levenger, with headquarters in Delray Beach, Fla., "will continue to operate from South Florida, with its existing employees remaining in place." The Levenger.com website will continue to offer all Levenger's products, with "a curated assortment to be made available in select Barnes & Noble stores this fall. In due course, an assortment will be offered in most Barnes & Noble and Paper Source stores."
In 2022, B&N bought Paper Source, which sells stationery, cards, gifts, stickers, crafts, and more, from slightly more than 100 stores in the U.S. Paper Source was founded in 1983 and has headquarters in Chicago, Ill.
Levenger CEO Margaret Moraskie said, "Levenger has always been about more than the products we create. It is about a belief in the power of reading, writing and ideas, and the remarkable community that has grown around that belief. Steve and Lori Leveen built something truly special nearly 40 years ago, and our team has worked with tremendous care to carry that legacy forward. Joining Barnes & Noble is an exciting next chapter for Levenger, bringing together two brands with a shared love of books, the written word and lifelong learning. I could not be more proud of our team, nor more excited about the opportunity ahead to introduce Levenger to more people while preserving everything that makes this brand so distinctive."
B&N CEO James Daunt said, "Levenger has created something truly special. For nearly four decades, Steve and Lori Leveen and the Levenger team have established a distinctive brand created specifically for readers and writers. Levenger is an exceptional complement to Barnes & Noble and Paper Source and we look forward to introducing these wonderful products those of our customers who are not already their fans."