Towns grow without Borders (the bookstore)

[alp227]

By Wes Venteicher Tribune reporter

8:40 p.m. CST, January 7, 2014

Three years after Borders Books & Music started closing its doors amid bankruptcy, the impact of the national chain’s exit is still evident around the Chicago area.

While some buildings remain shuttered, many have attracted new businesses, including grocery stores, clothing shops and even other bookstores.

Borders Group Inc. announced bankruptcy early in 2011, and by July that year closed the nearly 400 remaining stores. Some two dozen stores in the area shut down.

“Many communities are (still) dealing with this vacant hole in various places,” said Robert Kallien, the community development director of Oak Brook.

Borders’ exit from Oak Brook kicked off a flight of businesses from a shopping center in a high-traffic area, Kallien said. That left a 140,000-square-foot retail space more than two-thirds empty, he said.

full: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/suburbs/la_grange_western_springs/chi-borders-chicago-20140107,0,4445627,full.story

[bhikkhu]

1. Ours became a Sports Authority

which is fine (though I haven't been there yet), but I'd rather have a bookstore in town again.

[quinnox]

2. I liked Borders

I spent a great deal of time there when they had one in my city. One of those who just love hanging out in bookstores I guess.

[HughBeaumont]

3. Ours became a Nordstrom Rack.

You know, because that's exactly what Cracker Park needs . . . another clothing store.

[customerserviceguy]

4. That just illustrates

the difference between buying something you need to see in person, and something you don't. Bookstores will probably gone from the suburban landscape in the next ten years, only a few vestiges of the bookstore business will be around, as curiousities maintained by older folks who still think non-electronic books are charming. On the other hand, one really needs to try on clothing, or at least be able to feel the fabric, and check the construction. My online clothing purchases have usually been disasters (except for socks) and my Kindle book purchases have all worked out just fine.

[HappyMe]

5. I used to like going to Borders.

We have a Barnes & noble here. I love hanging out in bookstores.

[Neoma]

6. Unfortunately there was one borders bookstore in downtown Chicago...

That was my entire reason to go downtown Chicago. Three stories worth of merchandise. Oh well.

[Proud Public Servant]

7. The DC experience has been interesting

The downtown Borders has become a Nordstrom's Rack (which is a good thing; there are few reasonably-priced clothing stores downtown); the Barnes & Noble in Union Station became an H&M. But our two great independent, locally-owned bookstores are still going strong.

[MisterP]

8. Halloween store--too big for anything else