Barnes & Noble: Will It Follow the Borders Plot?

Borders entered bankruptcy protection last week as it grappled with mounting debt and credit concerns. The company said it will continue to operate while in bankruptcy court, but announced that it will shutter 200 locations.

Barnes & Noble said during its conference call with Wall Street that it may open some stores in the locations being vacated by Borders. CEO William Lynch said select Borders stores set to shutter "appear attractive to us," and he is hoping landlords may be willing to cut deals on rental costs.

This raised questions from analysts about why Barnes & Noble would want to invest more in brick-and-mortar locations.

Lynch said Barnes & Noble stores are still profitable and that most of Nook sales occur in stores.

In light of Borders bankruptcy and Barnes & Noble's lackluster earnings report, what do you think the future holds for the company? Take our poll and see what TheStreet readers are saying....

What's the most likely future for Barnes & Noble?
	It will file for bankruptcy. It will be bought out by private equity. It will purchase Borders' assets out of bankruptcy. It will take itself off the block and continue to operate as normal.

--Written by Jeanine Poggi in New York.

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