This is the continuing end of an era. In a few more decades we'll tell our kids about the stores that used to exist, dedicated to books, and music CDs and albums that we used to once peruse on cold winter's evenings...
I do get a little depressed having seen many a chain bookstore close here in the U.K., including several I used to frequent, but also have to remind myself that it was always often cheaper to buy from Amazon, and that sentiment doesn't make for a pragmatic business approach (or a healthy bank balance). I often wonder though honestly who can afford to buy from these shops exclusively. From someone who like most of you reads alot, buys lots of books old and new, online is often much, much cheaper.
In the U.K. I bought a book from Borders in London once I needed for an IT networking course I was doing and didn't have time to order from Amazon (or didn't think I did) it was £23 more than it would've cost me on Amazon!
The one book store that I would be really sad to see close would be the Waterstones store on Piccadilly. It's like a kind of heaven to me, and I do actively try to buy a few books when I am there. Many a Christmas Eve, or days before Christmas, I've spent scouting from floor to floor looking for last minute gifts... But I have to ask myself again - will I always be able to afford to do that, and is atmosphere enough in these things?