The Dying Gasps of Borders Bookstore Are Painful
We decided to follow the road signs advertising, "BORDERS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS! EVERYTHING MUST GO! 30-50% OFF!" On a previous visit, I'd seen a bunch of Richard Stark's Parker titles, and I thought they might still be there on the shelf for sale. Fat chance.
There are more depressing places to visit than a bookstore chain going out of business. But I've got to say it wasn't a very jolly spirit inside this Borders store. The liquidators have taken over the operations, and they're selling off every asset, even the light bulbs, it seems.
All the choice CDs were long gone. No Miles Davis, Dave Brubek, or Charlie Parker. The coffee bistro had closed down. Good thing since the lavatories had yellow crime scene tape blocking them off. And talk about the merchandise being picked over. Everything was disheveled.
The customers scurried between the aisles, holding to their discounted treasures. It was like the Christmas shoppers' stampede but in August. So, I grabbed up a Spillane, and my wife dug out a knitting book that she liked. The line at the checkout kiosks snaked around three or four times. But we made it out in snappy fashion and still intact.
All in all, I'm going to miss shopping at our Borders.
By Ed Lynskey
Twitter: @edlynskey
Author of Lake Charles
"The most fun traipsing along the muggy, rugged backroads of Appalachia since Deliverance."
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There are more depressing places to visit than a bookstore chain going out of business. But I've got to say it wasn't a very jolly spirit inside this Borders store. The liquidators have taken over the operations, and they're selling off every asset, even the light bulbs, it seems.
All the choice CDs were long gone. No Miles Davis, Dave Brubek, or Charlie Parker. The coffee bistro had closed down. Good thing since the lavatories had yellow crime scene tape blocking them off. And talk about the merchandise being picked over. Everything was disheveled.
The customers scurried between the aisles, holding to their discounted treasures. It was like the Christmas shoppers' stampede but in August. So, I grabbed up a Spillane, and my wife dug out a knitting book that she liked. The line at the checkout kiosks snaked around three or four times. But we made it out in snappy fashion and still intact.
All in all, I'm going to miss shopping at our Borders.
By Ed Lynskey
Twitter: @edlynskey
Author of Lake Charles
"The most fun traipsing along the muggy, rugged backroads of Appalachia since Deliverance."
BNBuzz
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Gary
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Aug 23, 2011 04:38AM
I agree with you fully - Borders was my favourite shop in the world. They carried all the US magazines which was the easiest way for us UK readers to get them. In the end everything left in store went down to 90% discounted. It's been gone from the UK for two years now and everytime I drive past the old store, which is a Next Clothing Store now, I shed a tear.
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Gary wrote: "I agree with you fully - Borders was my favourite shop in the world. They carried all the US magazines which was the easiest way for us UK readers to get them. In the end everything left in store w..."I also liked their laid back atmosphere and just browsing the wares. Ebooks are fine, but I like the social, hands-on aspect of a bookstore. Thanks for the remarks, Gary.
On one hand I have to agree: seeing borders go is a depressing feeling, reminds me of the scenes in You've Got Mail when the shop around the corner is going under. I have a lot of memories at borders, meeting my current girlfriend there, hanging with friends at music night once a month, and even buying a book on occassion. On the other hand though I have to say that I see ebooks as the way of the future, if for no other reason than the fact that ebooks can never be sold out or out of stock. Many atime I had waited to do summer reading and borders had to order me a copy. Its a touchy thing, on one hand it feels like a part of me is dying with this closure but on the other hand, it's a push to embrace the ways of the future. Great post nonetheless though.
Daniel wrote: "On one hand I have to agree: seeing borders go is a depressing feeling, reminds me of the scenes in You've Got Mail when the shop around the corner is going under. I have a lot of memories at borde..."Border didn't get on board with the ebook revolution fast enough is true. That may've been their largest downfall. Thank you for the comments, Daniel.
I'm very sadden by the closing of Borders as I live in a city where it's the only means to get books besides our awfully small pubic library. We have two other book stores in town but they only have local authors and not the books that I want to read. Our Borders in an express but it was still worth it to go there. I could spend 2 or 3 hours walking around in there and I couldn't walk out of there without having 4 or 5 books being bought. Now it's completely picked over and none of the books I wanted to purchase are there anymore. It's really sad to walk in there. Even though there are still so many books on the shelves, it still feels empty. I seriously hope someone decides to bring something down here to replace it. Until then I guess I'll be ordering my books online, because even though I have a Kindle and have some ebooks, I'd rather have the real book in my hand to be able to feel and smell the ink :-)
Stephanie wrote: "I'm very sadden by the closing of Borders as I live in a city where it's the only means to get books besides our awfully small pubic library. We have two other book stores in town but they only ha..."Wow. You must be having a big withdrawal. I guess we take something like a favorite bookstore for granted until it disappears, and we see what a loss it really is. Sure, half the fun going to a bookstore is to browse the wares. The big box stores offer stacks of the bestsellers though I'm not a big fan. Thanks for your sentiments which I echo as well.
Sigh. I got yelled at in a Barnes and Noble for bringing in my own coffee yesterday. No wonder I preferred Borders.
Karen wrote: "Sigh. I got yelled at in a Barnes and Noble for bringing in my own coffee yesterday. No wonder I preferred Borders."Oh yes, the coffee bistro was good.
Borders are shutting down in Australia as well, but they used to overcharge so outrageously that to be honest I'm not all that sad. As for ebooks, if they ever take over completely then I'll give up reading.
Dfordoom wrote: "As for ebooks, if they ever take over completely then I'll give..."I'm leaning toward that sentiment myself some days. Can't teach an old dog new tricks?
Why would you give up reading? I used to be the same with ebooks but then I got a kindle and it's been the greatest thing ever. Easy to read, I don't need to lug around books when travelling.
I hate the idea of reading a book on a screen. I hate the idea of buying an ebook and then finding I don't actually own it. I hate the idea of having to buy another piece on unreliable digital junk do I can read the ebook.Paperbacks are cheap, reliable and convenient.
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