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Beyond Borders
On Sunday, the last Borders and Waldenbooks stores closed their doors forever. Many eulogies and obituaries have been written about the company. Our own analysiswas published in February, when Borders declared bankruptcy-and the writing was already on the wall. CNN also had a more recent, thoughtful tribute.
Now many booksellers are stepping in to fill some of the gaps left by the collapse of the company that once had 1,400 locations across the country. Many indies are reaching out to former Borders customers in a variety of ways (see Powell’s Books‘ particularly direct invitation below!), with special offers, with deals for Borders Rewards members, with reminders that there are other stores eager for their business.
Some booksellers are literally moving into Borders and Walden spaces. For example, Ferguson Books & Media, Grand Forks, N.D., just opened a second store in a former Walden location at the Columbia Mall. Likewise, Rivendell Books, Montpelier, Vt., has opened a second store, in space that used to house a Walden, in the Berlin Mall. And Bookworks, Whitefish, Mont., will open a branch next month in Kalispell, where a Borders just closed.
Today Books-A-Million takes over the leases of 14 Borders stores after having made an offer in bankruptcy court that wasn’t refused. The chain has also taken over nearly as many other old Borders and Walden sites by dealing directly with landlords.
Many booklovers will miss Borders, but they shouldn’t forget that there are plenty of other bookstores with thousands of booksellers who know their stuff and eager to talk about and recommend books. And even for those of you who read most books digitally, so long as you don’t have a Kindle, you can buy e-books from most bricks-and-mortar bookstores both instore and online
Posted by therealsharon on September 22, 2011 at 8:16 AM
Our Borders here closed last Christmas and it was our ONLY book store in the city I live in….:(
Posted by eof737 on September 22, 2011 at 1:46 AM
I loved Borders and was sad to hear about their struggles… pity really.
Posted by laurieanichols on September 20, 2011 at 5:02 PM
Jackie, I love what you have done to the place! It looks fantastic. I awarded you the “versatility blogger award” because as you are the namesake for the award, you are so versatile! Keep it up you have fans who love what you are doing! Like me!
Posted by Jackie Paulson Author on September 20, 2011 at 8:58 PM
Thanks Laurie for the award, I just get so bored, I think I am ADHD on the internet because I can do so many things on it and never get bored…lol. Versatility is me. I appreciate the comment.
Posted by the island traveler on September 20, 2011 at 4:50 PM
Borders …I felt bad that it closed, not just for those who lost their jobs but for the years of memories of visiting the place. I used to stay at Borders in Galleria while my wife shops. I woud drink a Seattle’s best coffee while reading a book…now, it’s just a past. Great post!
Posted by Jackie Paulson Author on September 20, 2011 at 8:59 PM
I hear ya Island traveler, I use to go there and look at books for hours, then pick one and go have coffee and sit and read. Yes, I bought books also but it is my favorite pastime.
Posted by Carl D'Agostino on September 20, 2011 at 3:21 PM
The decline of print media. I have let US News and Time expire after 40 years. They are skeletons of themselves and mostly ads. In they effort to have a broad audience national and international news evaporated from the pages for junk I pass over and the net gives me everything now.
Posted by Jackie Paulson Author on September 20, 2011 at 9:01 PM
I also hear that the US Postal Service is thinking about closing and doing it all online. I just don’t like that idea. I really hate that the ebooks are out and such. I am a book reader but I love the real copies. I remember when they got rid of the floppy disks for computers, I hate the new ways…I guess I love the old fashioned anything. That Is just me.