Dallas to Lose its Last Borders as Chain's Liquidation to Commence Friday

By Robert Wilonsky Mon., Jul. 18 2011 at 12:44 PM

Courtesy Paula Bosse

Byron Nelson signing copies of his 1993 book at the Preston Royal Borders

A few weeks ago, my old friend Paula Bosse posted to her Facebook page a collection of random photos taken over the years at the Preston Royal Borders, which, of course, is on its way to becoming a Central Market following February's Chapter 11 filing. I was reminded of this estimable cache -- featuring the likes of Norman Mailer, Mickey Mantle, Anne Rice, George Takei, Ronnie Dawson and Johnny Rotten (hmmm, a slide show?) -- this morning, when it was reported that that the chain's one step closer to liquidation after yesterday's deadline came and went without a single taker emerging before Tuesday's auction.

Which doesn't mean liquidation's a sure thing; as the Wall Street Journal notes this morning, "Borders is likely to entertain offers right up until the scheduled auction in the hopes a white knight will emerge to save the chain." But folks working at the lone Dallas location, in Old Town, are nervous; they haven't heard Word One from corporate and are fearing the worst while hoping for the best. Meanwhile, the WSJ has posted an interactive map featuring all the remaining Borders in danger of shuttering along with the square footage of each store, with Old Town coming in at more than 40,000, making it one of the biggest in the country.

Update at 5:58 p.m.: The auction has been canceled, and Borders is days away from officially being declared dead. From Reuters:

A liquidation group led by Hilco Merchant Resources will begin liquidations as early as Friday, Borders said in a statement. The bookseller will seek bankruptcy court approval of the closing procedures at a hearing set for Thursday.

We Recommend

888

Time for Half Price Books to fill in the former Borders on McKinney!

Mike

The woman/family that owns/manages HPB are too smart to pull such a dumb move. Regular bookstores became essentially expensive places for cheapskates to lounge and maybe buy something. It's why you always see them on requests for urban core development. It's not from an unsatisfied hunger for literature. HPB meets that challenge by cutting down the cost of carrying product and the cost of space to lounge.

Howard

Doubtful. The management of West Village come off as high-falutin' and wanting only "fancy" tenants... a Fedex Office, for example, would be perfect and useful for the people who actually live or frequent the area, but such a tenant would never be allowed there.

steve

I"m sorry but I don't really mourn the loss of Borders, a large corporate bookseller. They were never really responsive to the needs and the demographics of the neighborhoods they were in. They stocked their stores based on national plans rather than what the people in the neighborhood would want to buy. Case in point, I went to buy the latest David Sedaris book at the Borders on McKinney...they didn't have that book but they had a TON of Sarah Palin's book...I say if you're that stupid in your store plan and marketing then you deserve to close. Good Riddance

DuckDuckGoose

Time for Taylor's to make it's triumphant return!

I used to spend a lot of time and money in the Old Town store. I went in there this morning after I heard this story and bought a couple of books for old times sake and paid twice what I would have paid for the same titles on Amazon, plus I had to get out in the heat to do it. There''s your problem right there.

Montemalone

We need to build an air-conditioned dome over the city.

But then we'd have to kill everyone on their 30th birthday.

Titus Groan

RENEW! RENEW!!!

scottindallas

when did this debt riddled behemoth come to Dallas, 20 years ago? So, the destroyed the local market and now their borrow and build model has collapsed. So long. Hell, I'd like to see Half Price expand into new titles

Cowtown

Exactly. I have Half Price Books, a neighborhood library, and an internet connection so I can buy books from Amazon. Why the hell anyone is mourning the death of Borders is beyond me.

Downtown_worker

There was a late '90s movie called "You've Got Mail" where Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks use something called AOL to email each other and become romantically involved. Tom Hank's character also worked for something called a Mega Bookstore and Meg Ryan for some quaint little shot that sold non-electronic books.

Montemalone

This could lead to a rebirth of the independent book store.

Lakewooder

I enjoy browsing HPB mothership every now and then but I do most of my book shopping at the mom and pop bookstore - Paperbacks Plus on La Vista. For those who haven't made a visit, I highly recommend. Great selection, and very nice/knowledgable staff.

Lolotehe

And store credit if you sell!

I think there's a program going on right now where adults who graduate from L.I.F.T. can use a store credit set aside for them and buy their book. I've donated mine to local schools and such.

Titus Groan

But most likely it will not. The writing is on the wall, and it says, "Kindle."

Montemalone

Damn taggers.

Robert Wilonsky

Not that I disagree, but I was in Half-Price's mothership Saturday, and, as has been the case with most recent visits, the line to buy was lengthy -- wrapped twice and still growing as we were exiting.

Randomthot

Do you like a Hot Carl?

Robert Wilonsky

There may be some old Reading is Fundamental trucks lying around? Man, I used to love their visits to F.P. Caillet back in the day. Then, there's this:

http://okiyo.files.wordpress.c...

Bill Holston

Maybe I should be thinking of starting a food truck/book store. Muffalatas and Eric Larson. ....

jcs

I went to Borders yesterday for a basic paperback "Lord of the Flies " and it was was $16. Glad I had a coupon. Half price books did not have any on their shelves. That is way high for a book that has been required reading for decades. Who can afford those prices?

Robert Wilonsky

Oh, I agree -- I'm just referring to the fact there seems to be this sense that people don't want actual books. People want 'em, all right. When they're affordable. And plentiful. And offered in a place that's actually fun to spend time browsing and eating (because, man, I love me a Hot Amsterdam ... the sandwich, I mean).

Bill Holston

an author buddy pointed out the problem with that. I love Half Price Books, and I love buying used books on Amazon. the problem is there has to be a market for new books, or there won't be any used books.

I loved the old brick and mortar independent bookstores; Shakespeare and Company,Taylors, the small store on Mockingbird and Central...?but, I buy most of my books on amazon, because of cost and convenience.

I don't have a Kindle, has very little appeal to me. I'm reading a paperback Brothers Karamazov, fits in my jacket pocket.