Barnes & Noble hangs up "for sale" sign

Barnes & Noble is hoping for a storybook ending. The ailing bookseller said Wednesday that it's exploring strategic alternatives, including a possible sale of the company. One possible buyer: Barnes & Noble founder and Chairman Leonard Riggio, the company said in a news release, while noting that "multiple parties" had expressed interest in bidding for the company. Barnes & Noble, which is publicly listed, is the nation's largest retail book vendor, operating 629 stores across the U.