Our name, Waldenbooks, is adopted nationwide. 1978 500th Waldenbooks store opens. 1979 Harry Hoffman, past President and CEO, arrives. 1981 Company becomes first and only bookseller operating in all fifty states. 750th store opens.
Centralized warehouse opens - the first in the industry.
All stores are tied into a computerized cash register system for automatic sales reporting and inventory control. 1983 50th anniversary. More than 830 stores in operation. 1984 Waldenbooks bought by Kmart Corporation, the second largest retailer in the country. Brentano's bookstores are purchased by Waldenbooks.