About Antoine Online

Antoine Online is the e-commerce platform of Librairie Antoine, one of the main regional actors in the world of books and the press.
With the strong reputation and experience of Librairie Antoine as a backbone, and in the backdrop a desire to be always at the forefront of technology in terms of e-commerce, Antoine Online offers lovers of literature, history, art, news, lovers of culture, whether is specific to a region or typically Lebanese or Arab, students, pupils, teachers, a choice of over 150 000 references in 5 languages from the best Lebanese and foreign publishers, carefully selected by passionate booksellers who are always ahead of trends.

Antoine Online also offers a selection of both varied and relevant books in Arabic, positioning itself, with the recent joint venture between Hachette and the Librairie Antoine, as a leader in the Middle East.
More than a bookstore, Antoine Online is now the online reference of the industry in the Middle East, a necessary stop for lovers of Lebanese and Arab culture.

History of Librairie Antoine :

1933: Antoine Naufal opens his bookstore, the Librairie Antoine, in a 30m2 shop on the downtown street of the Emir Beshir, in the Lazarist building, opposite the Grand Theatre.
1935-1939: The brothers Antoine, Pierre and Emile Naufal, work together in the library. Pierre is in charge of schoolbooks and Emile of general literature. Antoine is in charge of the finances and general management.
1946: A second branch of the library is open in Bab Idriss.
1960: A third branch is open in the center Starco.

1968: The three brothers found the Messengers of the Middle East by partnering with the NMPP, a subsidiary of Hachette, which will hold 20% of MMO. The company distributes French and local press as well as books (pocket, BD) and children's books.
1970: The three brothers acquire 50% of the capital of Levant Distributors, a distribution company of the British, U.S. and foreign press as well as general literature and Anglo-Saxon university books in over 60 countries. The company was founded in 1950 by Marco Hazan.
1970: Pierre Naufal creates Naufal Publishing (Mou'assassat Naufal), publishing house and distribution company of Arabic books. The catalog will include the big names of Lebanese literature (Mikhail Naimeh, Emily Nasrallah, Salam Racy ...) as well as school and university textbooks and children's books.
1971: Opening of a large general bookstore in Hamra.

1975-1976: Fire and looting of the 3 outlets in the city center during the Lebanese civil war. The Headquarters are moved to Sin el fil.
1985: Foundation of the Naufal Group in Paris, a branch of the publishing house publishing Lebanese authors in French.
1985-2009: Opening of multiple bookstores in malls: ABC, Bou Khalil, Metro, Dunes, AUB Campus, IC Campus. The branches now add up to 13.
1996: Librairie Antoine embarks in the publishing of school books and extracurricular books in collaboration with EDICEF.

2006: Publication of the first Arabic-language textbook published by the Librairie Antoine. The project's collection was launched in 2004.
2007: Foundation of Cedar Books Holding SA, Geneva, a joint venture, responsible for steering the development of e-commerce and site management of www.antoineonline.com.
2008: Buy out of Naufal Publishing by Librairie Antoine. Shared goodwill includes more than 600 titles.
2010: Foundation of Hachette Antoine SAL, a joint venture equally owned by Hachette Livre SA (France), and the Librairie Antoine SAL.
2012: Opening of Antoine iD store, a new cultural concept, in Beirut Souks.