Decline

I just swiped this from the WAKG news site. It really bothers me that now Danville won't even have a bookstore anymore! What does it say about a city that doesn't have a bookstore?

(DANVILLE) -- THIS WILL BE THE LAST CHRISTMAS FOR DANVILLE'S ONLY BOOKSTORE. B. DALTON BOOKSELLER IS CLOSING ALL 50 OF ITS STORES BY THE END OF JANUARY, INCLUDING THE OUTLET IN PIEDMONT MALL.MANAGERS OF THE STORES WERE INFORMED OF THE DECISION BY CONFERENCE CALL ON WEDNESDAY. THE B. DALTON CHAIN IS OWNED BY RETAILER BARNES AND NOBLE. A COMPANY SPOKESMAN SAYS WHILE BARNES AND NOBLE REMAINS COMMITTED TO MALL BUSINESS, THE B. DALTON OUTLETS ARE TOO SMALL TO BE PROFITABLE. BARNES AND NOBLE HAS BEEN PHASING OUT THE B. DALTONS AT A RATE OF 35 TO 40 STORES A YEAR FOR ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AND THE REMAINING LOCATIONS WILL NOT RENEW THEIR MALL LEASES. EMPLOYEES WILL BE GIVEN THE CHANCE TO TRANSFER TO THE LARGER BARNES AND NOBLE STORES WHENEVER POSSIBLE. NO EXACT DATE HAS BEEN SET FOR CLOSING THE DANVILLE STORE, BUT WE ARE TOLD THAT WILL HAPPEN BY THE END OF JANUARY.