I Remember Borders
Borders was my favorite bookstore! I felt like they were more relatable to bookish people. I had quite a few locations in my area and one was even less than 10 minutes from my house! It was PERFECTION!! There were quite a few Harry Potter parties I was able to attend, book signings when I realized that authors actually might come to your store if you were so lucky, there was just this wonderful feeling that overcame me every time I went in. At least in my stores, stuff hardly ever moved! I've already had B&N move things on me multiple times and it sends me in a tizzy trying to find my genres!
When Borders announced they were closing their doors for good on that sad, sad, dreary day in 2010, I was devastated. My world shattered because I literally didn't know where I was going to buy my books.
I can't count the number of times I would spend in my favorite store, spending hours trying to find my next read. This was wayyyy before blogging peeps! I would park myself in the YA section and pull out every book trying to find one that said READ ME! It would take awhile before I found the ONE! The paranormal book that was always so hard to find wayyy back then! And then there were times I would find a book that continued a series I thought done--again, before blogging and investigating books and knowing release dates and all that jazz! I would do happy bounces to find my mom aka my ride! Those times she was shocked that I was done within 15 minutes! She hadn't even finished looking yet!
Good times. Gooooood times.
Every time I pass an old location, I take a tiny moment of silence. And you know, a bit of resentment for whatever store dared to take Borders location.
Anyone else remember Borders and feel remorse? What are your happy Borders memories?
I always bought a cool interactive set for my niece every year from Borders. Whether it was learning origami, learning to craft with clay, I loved getting her something was both fun and taught her something. I was really sad when Borders closed. Not that there's anything wrong with B&N but they're not the same.
ReplyDeleteI MISS BORDERS EVERY DAY! I can't believe you still have your rewards card and that it's been closed for 8 years now!
ReplyDeleteWhen I was teaching I used to stalk the bargain book shelves at Borders to purchase history and social studies books to fill the shelves of my classroom!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember this store. I also don't think there were any around my area back then and I was too young. Plus, my mom wouldn't take me anyway. haha
ReplyDeleteWhen I was first teaching, there was a Borders just about halfway between the town where I taught and where my sisters lived. So I'd meet them there for coffee and browsing pretty often. Other chain bookstores I remember include B. Dalton and Waldenbooks, but I'm pretty sure Borders was the first one I saw that also sold coffee and records.
ReplyDeleteYes! I always liked Borders more than B&N, though I'm not even sure why. Also they had more locations and were closer. And I went to a HP party at one once too! And I do have more good memories from trips to Borders than B&N. I too remember searching through those shelves pre-blogging days :-P I still remember where the (fairly small) YA section was since I always headed straight to it!
ReplyDeleteThe Borders we had in my home town was a Waldenbooks, but I loved it all the same. I loved hanging out in the children's and YA sections, even if they were small. I would pour over the books. I also had fun at the only Harry Potter midnight release that I went to (I discovered the series too late to go to any others). An independent bookstore replaced them as the bookstore in town, but it wasn't the same. I don't know if anyone has taken over Waldenbooks' place in the mall, but I'm not sure how I would feel about anything that wasn't a bookstore being in there.
ReplyDeleteWe didn't have a borders by my house. It sounds like I really missed out. Our closest bookstore s a Barnes and Noble that is almost 10 miles away. There ins't a single indie bookstore within 10 miles of my house that isn't niche specific (Christian, Muslim, African American are the only ones around). It's sad. That for sharing what you loved about this store. You are giving me some great ideas...
ReplyDeleteI liked Borders, but I wasn't as emotionally attached to it as you are. I'm glad you have such great memories of the store!
ReplyDeleteNicole @ Feed Your Fiction Addiction
oh yes! I remember too! I loved Borders! miss that store so much! [we only had one in this little town]
ReplyDeleteOh, I think I don't need to 'remember' Borders since it's still functioning where I live, in Dubai, but no doubt, it's one of my fave bookstores! :D I think it started out here in 2010 because I remember me and my cousin planning our trips to there because all the stores are in malls and it takes time to drive up there. I can totally understand how sad it must've been to see it closed down, I can't imagine not buying my books (or getting those reward cards) from Borders <3
ReplyDeleteOh Borders, how I loved it! Mine closed years before I got my license, so I wasn't able to go as often as I liked, and definitely didn't spend as much time as I liked either! There's no bookstores near me where I am in college, and the closest one in my hometown is 25 minutes away... How I miss having a bookstore that was just a 5 minute drive!!
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