The Barnes & Noble bookstore in San Jose’s Almaden Plaza was a shell of its former self Thursday morning. The store won’t be officially closed until Sunday, but you’d be forgiven for thinking the end already had come.

A few shoppers were around hunting for bargains — books at 75% off! — among what little remained on the shelves. You had a chance of scoring a deal if you liked graphic novels, manga, romance and cookbooks; there were even some bestsellers still around. The cafe in the back was “permanently closed,” cleared out of coffee and baked goods, and the section devoted to children’s books was empty and blocked off.