Audible Inc., an Amazon.com Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) subsidiary, opened Audible Story House on May 1, a temporary listening lounge and community space that will operate through May 31 in New York City. The 6,000-square-foot facility at 260 Bowery represents what the company calls the first bookless bookstore.

The space features over 300 audio stories across genres including romance, true crime, and action that visitors can browse using physical "Story Tiles" - tactile representations of audiobooks. These tiles can be taken to listening stations for playback or tapped on smartphones to stream through the Audible app.

The facility includes six listening areas across three floors, including quick sampling stations with Sony headphones and a Dolby Atmos Lounge for immersive audio experiences. A gallery space will host panels and programming with high-fidelity speakers designed by Silence Please. Staff called "Story Tenders" at a listening bar will help visitors find audiobooks matching their preferences.

"We developed Audible Story House by asking a simple question: what does a bookstore look like without any books?" said James Finn, Audible's Global Head of Brand & Content Marketing. "The answer became a place where audio storytelling comes alive, and where people connect, celebrate what they love, and find communities that matter to them."

The facility will host programming throughout May, including panel discussions with authors like Lily Chu and podcasters Leon Neyfakh and Laura Beil. Content creators including former Bachelor lead Matt James will participate in events and curate audiobook collections. Additional programming includes Harry Potter trivia, teacher appreciation events, crafting workshops, and live music shows.

The space also features a studio highlighting Audible's immersion reading feature and includes a café operated by Brooklyn-based Land to Sea. Audible Story House will be open Wednesdays through Sundays from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM, with free admission to the public.