David Adams
Kishke Level: 46
Posts: 354/393 EXP: 702077 For next: 9702
Since: 2.1.02 From: NJ
Since last post: 1024 days Last activity: 156 days
| #2 Posted on 16.2.11 1153.27 Reposted on: 16.2.18 1154.29 | They aren't closing the one above Penn Station in New York? That one has to have the highest rent out there and the only time I ever saw it really busy was around the holidays.
Anyway, I can't say I'm surprised about this. E-readers and online purchasing are driving the brick and mortar bookstores away. I liked Borders more than other places as well. One of the NJ closures is right next to where I got my hair cut and I would always stop in to browse or pick something up.
Edit: Oops. Found the Penn Station one there. Yup, that one is going too.
(edited by David Adams on 16.2.11 1255) | Mr Heel II
Lap cheong Level: 84
Posts: 1244/1559 EXP: 5528461 For next: 133515
Since: 25.2.02
Since last post: 1891 days Last activity: 1627 days
| #3 Posted on 16.2.11 1208.55 Reposted on: 16.2.18 1212.02 | The list initially gives me the impression they're abandoning the small mall footprint and focusing on their big box stores.
The only reason I've gone into Border's in recent years was because a Blu-ray I wanted that had gone out of print showed up as being in stock at the local store, and I couldn't find it anywhere else. (They actually had it too, but I paid about $10 more for it than I would have through Amazon if they still had it.) | Leroy
Boudin blanc Level: 100
Posts: 1883/2336 EXP: 10151785 For next: 202647
Since: 7.2.02
Since last post: 12 days Last activity: 6 days
| #4 Posted on 16.2.11 1238.37 Reposted on: 16.2.18 1240.28 | We lost of our downtown Barnes & Noble and Borders (which were across the street from one another) on January 1st.The Borders that closed was a three story MONSTER of a store. There's still a Borders near the university (which, when it opened, made no sense given the proximity to the downtown store), but that's rumored to be on the chopping block as well.
It's interesting to see what's become of both Borders and Blockbuster given the thrashing they laid on the independent stores 15 years ago. I love that story of Blockbuster execs laughing when the Netflix folks approached them about a partnership.
(edited by Leroy on 16.2.11 1112) | lotjx
Scrapple Level: 129
Posts: 1431/4785 EXP: 24951067 For next: 98654
Since: 5.9.08
Since last post: 1681 days Last activity: 1520 days
| #5 Posted on 16.2.11 1304.42 Reposted on: 16.2.18 1305.40 | None near me which is good for the area, bad for my consumerism. I am thinking a lot of the store closings are either in cities with a diminishing population ie profit or ones where there is a borders 10 to 20 miles away. Seems more like cutting the fat then anything else. I am sure rent has a lot to do with it, too. | SchippeWreck
Banger Level: 108
Posts: 1966/2862 EXP: 13411506 For next: 109037
Since: 26.3.03 From: Glendale, CA
Since last post: 2106 days Last activity: 176 days
| #6 Posted on 16.2.11 1400.31 Reposted on: 16.2.18 1402.15 | They're closing the one by me. Not surprising, since a big shiny B&N opened a block away 2 1/2 years ago, and I don't think I've been back to Borders since.
I never liked how they wouldn't allow their coupons to be used on comic trades and graphic novels. | StingArmy
Andouille Level: 95
Posts: 1834/2118 EXP: 8517021 For next: 151617
Since: 3.5.03 From: Georgia bred, you can tell by my Hawk jersey
Since last post: 2957 days Last activity: 549 days
| #7 Posted on 16.2.11 1441.18 Reposted on: 16.2.18 1441.38 | The last Borders-related news I heard was back in like November or so when I learned the proposed new Borders here in NYC at 103rd & Columbus was no longer happening, and that they were also closing another already-existing Borders on the Upper West Side (or maybe it was the Upper East Side?). Didn't seem like too huge a deal to me since there is a Borders or Barnes & Noble every few blocks here, but maybe it was a sign of things to come? Either way, kinda sad to hear.
- StingArmy | The King of Keith
Lap cheong Level: 84
Posts: 1454/1573 EXP: 5514930 For next: 147046
Since: 4.11.02 From: Winchester, VA
Since last post: 3394 days Last activity: 3393 days
| #8 Posted on 16.2.11 1511.42 Reposted on: 16.2.18 1511.54 | In 2005, a brand new shopping center had opened here with the three anchor stores being Borders, Linens n' Things, and Circuit City. That place was doomed from the start.
(edited by The King of Keith on 16.2.11 1712) | odessasteps
Scrapple Level: 140
Posts: 4186/5065 EXP: 32483317 For next: 803170
Since: 2.1.02 From: MD, USA
Since last post: 3571 days Last activity: 3538 days
| #9 Posted on 16.2.11 1536.28 Reposted on: 16.2.18 1537.18 | As an admittedly biased former Borders manager, sad to see, but only a matter of time.
But when your model allows people to sit around on comfy couches and read the books instead of buying them, you are asking for trouble. | Oliver
Scrapple Level: 138
Posts: 4114/5007 EXP: 31593483 For next: 69577
Since: 20.6.02
Since last post: 3314 days Last activity: 3308 days
| #10 Posted on 16.2.11 2332.38 Reposted on: 16.2.18 2333.15 | Originally posted by The King of Keith In 2005, a brand new shopping center had opened here with the three anchor stores being Borders, Linens n' Things, and Circuit City. That place was doomed from the start.
(edited by The King of Keith on 16.2.11 1712)
Out of curiosity (being an avid fan of retail history and the like), what mall is this...and what replaced the anchors?
I wonder if, up here in Canada, the Chapters/Indigo/Coles stores will be hit the same way. A little research would suggest that a Borders store has the same business model as a Chapters or Indigo store here. | dMp
Knackwurst Level: 111
Posts: 2139/3003 EXP: 14827820 For next: 40586
Since: 4.1.02 From: The Hague, Netherlands (Europe)
Since last post: 265 days Last activity: 11 hours
| #11 Posted on 17.2.11 0232.01 Reposted on: 17.2.18 0248.08 | Originally posted by odessasteps
As an admittedly biased former Borders manager, sad to see, but only a matter of time.
But when your model allows people to sit around on comfy couches and read the books instead of buying them, you are asking for trouble.
That is something that always intrigued me. In the Netherlands, if they see you reading a book in the store someone will come over and address it.
In the US, at both B&N and Borders, it seems like they actually encourage you to read things there. Most amusing is when you walk past the comics/manga section and there's piles of kids sitting there. Hell, I've even seen people do it at comic book stores like Midtown.
Is there a benefit to this model?
(edited by dMp on 17.2.11 0933) | Reverend J Shaft
Toulouse Level: 75
Posts: 939/1235 EXP: 3779082 For next: 47839
Since: 25.6.03 From: Home of The Big House
Since last post: 1438 days Last activity: 21 days
| #12 Posted on 17.2.11 0655.03 Reposted on: 17.2.18 0656.19 | Shame to see an Ann Arbor institution suffer like this but, as has been pointed out, the proliferation of e-readers and online retailers seems to have made this an inevitability. At least the flagship store in town will remain open.
(edited by Reverend J Shaft on 17.2.11 0928) | J. Kyle
Banger Level: 104
Posts: 2155/2552 EXP: 11581724 For next: 280441
Since: 21.2.02 From: The Land of Aloha
Since last post: 1560 days Last activity: 1341 days
| | Y!: | |
|
| #13 Posted on 17.2.11 0815.18 Reposted on: 17.2.18 0816.41 | Originally posted by dMp In the US, at both B&N and Borders, it seems like they actually encourage you to read things there. Most amusing is when you walk past the comics/manga section and there's piles of kids sitting there. Hell, I've even seen people do it at comic book stores like Midtown.
Is there a benefit to this model?
The Japanese mankitsu (manga cafe) works pretty well where it's like that, but with enough chairs for everyone and a small hourly fee to read away. I'd like that in America because I don't need any more books in my apartment but I'm not sure it would work. | ALL ORIGINAL POSTS IN THIS THREAD ARE NOW AVAILABLE |
| | | | | | | | | | | |