Polish Book Chains Re-imagine Stores, Expand to Small Cities

The recent takeover of Poland's second-largest bookstore chain Matras could define the direction in which the country's book market will move over the next several years. Two rival chains, Empik and Matras, are experimenting with new store formats and expanding into smaller cities to reach out to readers.

The takeover of Matras by businessman Jerzy Kowalewski marks the end of a long saga for the bookstore chain. Rumors of its potential acquisition by a new investor date back to at least 2012