Which bookstore chain first implemented the now-common 'browsing lounge' concept, allowing customers to sit and read books before purchasing?

The literary retail landscape has evolved dramatically in recent decades, with bookstores reimagining the customer journey to compete with digital alternatives. From experiential spaces to technological integrations, bookstores have pioneered innovative approaches to connecting readers with books. Test your knowledge about a groundbreaking retail innovation that transformed how we discover literature in physical spaces.

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Barnes & Noble, with their café-integrated stores in the 1990s
Borders Books, with their 'Borders Lounge' initiative in the late 1980s
Waterstones, with their 'Reading Rooms' concept introduced in 2001
Shakespeare & Co., with their Paris 'Literary Salons' starting in the 1970s