[Steven Lyle Jordan]

A brick-and-mortar store could lease in-store kiosks that would allow visitors to browse printed books, then download them onto their devices (or have them e-mailed to their accounts). This gives the store purpose, allowing people to physically examine the book, and speak to clerks for help and further info.

Of course, if the point of these particular stores was the "name your own price" and "return when done" aspects: All I can say is, e-books are going to change the old book-handling models, and some things may never be the same.