Barnes & Noble Inc. is scheduled to close one of its retail bookstores in Hobart at the end of the year.
The store at 2240 E. 80th Ave. is closing Dec. 31, according to the company's customer service telephone line. There is no immediate indication that the Barnes & Noble location at the Valparaiso Marketplace in Valparaiso is closing.
A company spokeswoman did not return multiple requests seeking comment.
In Barnes & Noble's earnings report for the 13 weeks ended July 31, the company said its retail division is facing significant pressures from the economic downturn, increased competition and the expanding digital market.
The company also said it likely would not open any stores in new geographic markets or expand the number of its locations. As of July 31, the company had 717 retail bookstores primarily under the Barnes & Noble Booksellers trade name.
Barnes & Noble had a loss of $62.5 million, or $1.12 per share, in the 13 weeks ended July 31, while in the comparable period a year earlier it earned a profit of $11.9 million, or 21 cents per share.