Michigan still has 20 Bed Bath & Beyond stores, after recent closings. Unclear is how they’ll fare as the chain considers bankruptcy and hunts for a buyer. (Courtesy photo) As Bed Bath & Beyond eyes filing for bankruptcy protection, the fate of its 1,000 U.S. stores is unknown In Michigan, about 20 stores remain open If they close, other retailers are in line to fill the big-box retailer space, according to one Michigan developer Investors are nervously watching Bed Bath & Beyond as the value of the home product chain — which had about 1,000 stores and 32,000 employees across the U.S. a year ago — has plummeted 83 percent since March. The company is looking for a buyer and a lender as it careens toward possible bankruptcy this winter. Its stock now trades at $2.52 a share. The potential bankruptcy raises questions about the chain’s last 20 stores in Michigan — and what will happen to the large outdoor shopping centers that are home to them if Bed Bath & Beyond liquidates. Among earlier examples that sent ripple effects across U.S. retail properties was the closing of Borders Inc. in 2011 and the downsizing of Toys R Us […]