Last week I went to my nearest Borders on the day before it was going to close.
I'd been a few weeks ago but even then it made me sad to think about.
I live in a wonderful city that is blessed with a number of indie bookstores but I grew up in a place where the Borders became a central hub of books and coffee and social activity.
My best friend from high school met her husband while working at Borders.
A trip to my hometown usually means a trip to Borders. My mom loved the coffee there. My best friend and I would hang out there, drinking coffee and reading magazines.
When my dad and I want to kill time we duck into a Borders or Barnes and Noble and browse the bookshelves. My Dad will usually find a comfy chair and read for a while. I was always shocked that no one came and made him buy the book before he read it. He'd usually buy whatever book he found to read plus a couple more and a book for me.
As a writer who works in the arts working in a bookstore is on my list of back up jobs but as I walked up the empty aisles at Borders I wonder if I need to make other back up plans.
I love indie bookstores but I have to say that the big box stores like Borders and Barnes and Noble often provided my friends with income and health insurance while doing something that they enjoyed, selling books.
I won't bore you with all the thoughts I had about the future of books and e-publishing and the economy.
It makes me sad to see any bookstore closing. To see people losing their jobs.
What about you? Will you miss Borders?
7 comments:
Hubby and I went to our local Borders 3 times during this close out and each time we'd walk in I would say, "this is so sad." I loved our Borders. My crit group met there. I too loved their coffee. Barnes and Noble, while great, just isn't the same.
Oh man will I! They stocked my books, and sold them too. I couldn't even go in for the closing sale, even tho I had a gift card in my purse for $5 off a purchase.
I miss when any bookstores close. It's a very sad thing to see. I did pick up some treasures though.
I love Borders! It was the perfect place to browse the shelves and get a cup of coffee. So sad that it's closing.
i'm a hard core barne's and noble girl, both because i worked there and because i had some personal issues with Border's policies which bordered (pun not intended) on censorship.
BUT, that said, i'm definitely sad to see them go. Any book store closing hurts all of us, and i feel bad for all those people out of jobs
I'll definitely miss it. The whole thing is so sad.
I'm hoping this means good things for indie book stores in the long run - but they're going to have to be smart and keep pace w/ changing consumer desires. I've got some good memories of going there for story time when my kiddos were little.
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