Readers React to Announced Borders Closures in Brandon and Elsewhere

Call it the perfect storm, the coming together of megatrends shaping the future of things that were.

For , that appears to be the case, at least in the minds of customers in attendance at the Brandon superstore on Feb. 16, hours after it was announced that the Brandon superstore would be closings its doors by the end of April.

Borders is undergoing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and its reorganization included the closing of some 200 superstores nationwide, including the two superstores on Dale Mabry Highway and 14 other Florida stores.

"It's sad, but it's how times are changing," said Jeremy Hunt of South Tampa, who was at the Borders in Brandon with a friend. "A lot of people are losing jobs and have less money to spend."

Moreover, he added, it's a sign of the times: "Less paperback, more Kindle."

Indeed, the Kindle wireless reading device has become the No. 1 best-selling product on Amazon. Borders and have their own eReaders, the Kobo and the Nook, respectively.

In announcing the company's first $10-billion quarter, Jeff Bezos, founder and CEO of Amazon.com, reported Jan. 27 that the company is now selling more Kindle books than paperback books.

"Since the beginning of the year, for every 100 books Amazon has sold, the company has sold 115 Kindle books," according to the company statement.

As Hunt in Brandon put it: "You can read pretty much any book online now."

With Hunt was Michelle Ling, a Greater Brandon resident, who graduated from Durant High School in 2004 and now studies nursing at South University in Tampa.

"That's very upsetting," she said about the pending closing of the Borders in Brandon. "I do come here all the time to study, because I like the atmosphere, but I don't really shop here. I do buy coffee all the time, though."

That, too, is another issue for Borders: people coming to the store to study, but not necessarily to buy.

"I come here for the Wi-Fi and I'm fixing to have some coffee," said Teresa Francis, who is studying multimedia and Web design at the Greater Brandon campus of . "I was actually going to make (the Borders in Brandon) my new study environment, outside of the library."

When told the store is set to close, Francis added: "Wow, that's quick."

"It's not a good economy," she reasoned. "People are just trying to maintain their own lives, and I can imagine businesses are suffering, too, but this is a good place."

"This is a good store," she added about the Brandon Borders. "All the Borders are, to be honest with you, but this is a nice one. Brandon is a family environment and this Border really carries a family atmosphere, so I'm certain it will be greatly missed."

For some interests, the closing allowed for a chance to promote other initiatives, as was the case with the Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce.

“It always saddens us at The Greater Brandon Chamber of Commerce when we hear of a business closing its doors in our area," said chamber president and CEO Tammy Bracewell, in a statement offered after Brandon Patch called for a reaction to Brandon's Borders announcement.

"Unfortunately," she added, "we are not aware of their specific situation as they were not a member of our chamber of commerce nor had they taken advantage of any of our marketing or outreach opportunities."

Still, for some observers — and even for Borders itself — the question is not so much about networking and marketing as it is about surviving a recessionary economy that has tested and questioned even the best business practices, plans and products.

"In light of the ongoing impact of the difficult economy of the past few years, and the rapidly changing retailing environment for books and related products, it is essential that Borders restructure itself to reposition its business to be viable and successful over the long term," the company said in a release posted at www.bordersreorganization.com.

"To that end," the statement continues, "we have determined the best route to undertake the necessary reorganization of our business is through the filing of a petition for reorganizational relief under Chapter 11 of the Bankruptcy Code."

Brandon Patch readers were asked in a Facebook post to react to the Brandon Borders closing. Here's a sampling of those reactions, and we invite you to post yours as well in the comment box below:

• Anne Drewry: "Sad to hear…great store here in Brandon it will be missed!"
• Arlene Jacobs: "Oh, no! We love Borders. I'd think with the amount we've spent there they'd be in business for decades. And it is so much easier to get in and out of than other bookstores in the area."
• Theresa Miller: "I usually don't go there. This librarian does not like the way it is organized. Not user-friendly for me. However, I still love it because it houses books, so, boo(hoo) to closure."
• Terry Abbott: "Always shop Barnes & Noble. Hope this isn't a trend!"
• Laura Frazier: "Oh, it's a trend alright…get your Kindle (or whatever electronic reader) now!"
• Lauren Mickler: "I just looked at the list and our local Borders is closing, too. So sad to see. Bookstores are somewhat of a comfort. It seems you can always find what you need and then some. The opportunity to take your time and browse opens the door for new interests. Let's hope Barnes & Noble holds its own!" (Editor's Note: Brandon Patch called the manager at Barnes & Noble in Brandon, and was referred to a company spokesperson, to whom a voice message was left.)