Marlborough Customers React to Borders' Announcement

Longtime customers of the Border's Books and Music store in Marlborough were out in force on Tuesday, browsing the deeply discounted merchandise lining the shelves and racks outside. 

"I'm totally against it," said Joe Denzel as he browsed a $3.99 rack outside the front door. "I have always shopped here for books—always."

The is one 399 remaining stores left open in the United States, after many closed earlier this spring including one in nearby Shrewsbury. 

Another longtime customer, Cheri Garceau, said she was extremely disappointed by the news. 

"My son and I have been coming to this store for a long time and we are really disappointed to see it go," said Garceau. "... I think it is really due to e-books, and people not shopping for books the old-fashioned way anymore. I expect even schools will be going in this direction eventually too."

An employee, who spoke off the record, said the Marlborough staff are still in the process of assimilating the news, after being hopeful of a different outcome after the last round of closings.

A press release from the company issued on Monday said the stores will remain open until the end of September as they go through the Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. 

"Following the best efforts of all parties, we are saddened by this development," said Borders Group President Mike Edwards in the release. "We were all working hard towards a different outcome, but the headwinds we have been facing for quite some time, including the rapidly changing book industry, eReader revolution, and turbulent economy, have brought us to where we are now."

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