Barnes & Noble, Bookstore | featured news

Barnes & Noble isn’t near dead, but a lot of writers are lining up to lament its passing. They say the chain’s demise would be a blow to books, especially in suburban America.

Struggling bookstore chain Barnes & Noble plans to close a slew of stores over the next decade, its chief executive told the Wall Street Journal.

Barnes & Noble, the country’s largest bookseller, said data thieves hacked into payment devices at 63 of its stores nationwide and may have stolen credit and debit card information from customers.

Shares of Barnes and Noble plummeted Thursday following the company’s announcement that it will explore options to spin-off its Nook digital unit. Company stock had fallen over 20 percent in morning trading, a response to a company release that also disclosed that Barnes and Noble has lowered its yearly revenue guidance.

Barnes & Noble's CFO resigned amid the bookseller's shift to digital technologies, naming Controller Allen Lindstrom as interim CFO.

Barnes & Noble said Liberty Media has invested $204 million in the bookseller, effectively ending acquisition talks.

Barnes & Noble has put itself up for sale, struggling amid a changing landscape for book sales. Chairman Len Riggio is considering a bid.

B&N cut the price of its Nook e-reader to $199 and unveiled a new W-Fi only model that costs $149, as the competition over electronic-book readers turns to a new battle front: price.