Audible's New In-Person Bookstore Turns Browsing into a Listening Experience
Audible has opened a 'bookless bookstore' in Lower Manhattan called Story House, where visitors can sample audiobooks through interactive tiles and listening stations. The space features six unique areas, including a Dolby Atmos Lounge and a listening bar, designed to foster community engagement around audio storytelling. Open to the public from May on a limited schedule, the venue offers curated five-minute audiobook previews and upcoming fan-centric events.
- ▪Audible's Story House is a three-floor, bookless bookstore in Lower Manhattan dedicated to audiobook sampling.
- ▪Visitors can select tiles representing audiobooks and listen to curated five-minute snippets in private booths or group stations.
- ▪The space includes a Dolby Atmos Lounge, a listening bar, a cafe, and areas for simultaneous reading and listening via Audible's app.
- ▪Human 'Story Tenders' are available to assist visitors in navigating the listening experience.
- ▪Story House is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. throughout May at 260 Bowery.
Opening excerpt (first ~120 words) tap to expand
This month, New York City dwellers searching for their next audiobook can browse options in person. Audible has created a listening lounge and community hub in Lower Manhattan, which it calls a "bookless bookstore." Instead of housing paperbacks and hardcovers, the three-floor store is full of tiles used for sampling books, including 1984, Frankenstein, Heated Rivalry and The Fourth Wing.CNET attended a press preview of Audible's Story House, which is now open to the public. Visitors can pick a tile representing an audiobook from a shelf, and bring it to a station to listen to snippets, alone or with a group, in small booths.The curated samples offer about 5 minutes of listening, and you can keep swapping for new tiles.
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Excerpt limited to ~120 words for fair-use compliance. The full article is at CNET.
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