Does this guy just scream “Philadelphia”, or what?
It’s 1994 all over again.
Borders – born as a used bookstore in Michigan 40 years ago and long seen as the less idiotic of the large chains – filed its long-expected bankruptcy yesterday. The global reaching retail chain that helped define the age of the book superstore leaves empty malls, airport terminals and a struggling book industry wondering what indignity will follow. Borders will close hundreds of its stores in the next few week, unceremoniously sending its employees the unemployment line. Also worried are book publishers – who are getting burned to the tune of millions owed to them by the bereft chain – and mall owners, whose shopping centers are anchored by Borders’s superstores. Yes, there are still malls and shopping centers anchored by Borders. Barnes and Noble could come out smelling like a rose. But it’s not likely. The biggest threat to Barnes & Noble is the same threat that exists to independent book sellers and to anyone engaged in the sale of printed books, the Internet.
Remember in the early 1990s, when independent bookstores were closing all over the country as Borders and Barnes & Nobles moved in with their super low prices and coffee couches? When the chain bookstores were seen as great predators gobbling up local booksellers? And then Megastores like Walmart and Costco started selling bestsellers, so that neighborhood bookstores were weathering threats from all sides? Then came the internet and Amazon and most of them had to shutter their doors? The number of independent bookstores has been declining for some time, but creepily, the sales of books themselves are declining for everyone. Besides the obvious fact that people are quantifiably dumber than ever (I can count on 1 hand people I know who consider reading a habit up there with their Zumba classes or marathon running, their Thursday night gathering at some stupid bar).
And, entire categories of books, like reference books and travel books are just passe junk, now that all that information is available instantly and for free on the Internet. Now that everything is dominated by Amazon, the big chains are kaput, too.
Here’s hoping that someday the Kindle will be the new Betamax.
Here is a woefully incomplete list of bookstore casualties of the past few years:
RIP Borders, East Kensington, London 2000 - 2009
RIP Wahrenbrock's Book House 1935 - 2009
RIP Borders Miami, FL 2002 - 2010
Rodney's Bookstore, Cambridge 2005 - 2010
RIP Twelfth Street Books, Greenwich Village, NY. 1998 - 2008
Borders, Oxford, UK 2010
RIP Brownstone Books Bedford Stuyvesant, NY 2010
RIP Cummins Books, Dinkytown, MN 1996 - 2010
RIP Paige Turner Books Chicago, IL 2004 - 2010
RIP PQ Olsson's, Penn Quarter, DC 1972 - 2008
RIP Biermaier Books, Minn, MN 1950 - 2010
RIP Borders, West London, UK 2000 - 2009
RIP David Mirvish Books on Art Toronto, BC 1978 - 2009
RIP Ivy's Books. NYC 1998 - 2009
RIP Heritage Book Shop 1963 - 2007
RIP Bertrand Smith's Acres of Books, Long Beach, CA. 1934 - 2008
RIP Kim's Bookshop Chichester, West Sussex, UK 2004 - 2010
Crossroads Infoshop & Radical Bookstore
RIP Waldenbooks. Dallas, TX 2009
RIP Waldenbooks, Berlin, Vermont 2007
RIP Amnesty Books .Cambridge, UK
RIP Borders, Kensington, UK 1999 - 2009
RIP Jay's Books. Pittsburgh, PA. 1959 - 2010
RIP Borders, Glasgow Scotland 1998 - 2009
RIP Know Bookstore, Durham, NC 1991 - 2009
RIP Big Money Comics. Washington, DC 2009
RIP ABC Book & Comic Emporium 2007
RIP The Granville Book Company, Vancouver 1988 -2008
RIP A Likely Story. Alexandria, VA. 1987 - 2007
RIP Borders. London, UK 200 - 2009
RIP Libreria Martinez, Santa Ana, CA 1995 - 2008
RIP B. Dalton. Columbia Mall, 2007
RIP Book & Brier Patch Regina, SK 1977 - 2010
RIP Forever After Books SF, CA 2009
RIP Murder One, Charing Cross Rd, UK 2009
RIP Jonathan Benton Books. Birmingham, AL 1993 - 2009
RIP Dutton's Brentwoow Books 1984 - 2008
RIP Bookstop. Austin, TX 2006 - 2008
RIP Hughes and Hughes Dun Laoghaire, Ireland 2010
RIP Librairie De France, NYC 1935 - 2009
RIP Barne & Noble, Chelsea, NYC 1994 - 2008
RIP Intellectual Property Books, Austin, TX 2009
RIP Walden Books, Hickory Hollow Mall, 2009
RIP Christian Bookshop, Leytonstone, UK 2009
RIP Park Slope Books, Brooklyn 2008
RIP Waterstones, Oxfard St, UK 1999 - 2008
RIP Cody's Books 2009
RIP This Aint The Rosedale Library, UK 1986 - 2010
RIP Brent's Books. Vancouver, BC 1995 - 2006
RIP Borders, Cedarhurst, NY 1978 - 2009
RIP Brentanos, Paris. 1895 - 2009
RIP Paragraphe Bookstore. Montreal, 2008
RIP Maple Street Book Shop, New Orleans. 1988 - 2010
RIP Neighbors Bookstores. Lake Tahoe, Nevada, 2008
RIp Barnes & Noble, Lincoln Center 1995 - 2010
RIP Dragon's Horde Books. Danville, IL. 1983 - 2009
RIP Murder One, UK. 1998 - 2009
RIP Shaman Drum Bookshop, Ann Arbor, MI 1980 - 2010
RIP Walden Books, Valley View, Dallas. 2009
RIP Clovis Books, Williamsburg, Brooklyn 2006
RIP Trover Shop, Capitol Hill. 1959 - 2009
RIP Elephant Books, Barcelona. 2002 - 2008
RIP Borders, Westminster. 2009
RIP Shipley Books, London. 1983 - 2008
RIP Black Oak Books. Berkley, CA. 1989 - 2009
RIP Nicola's Bookstore, Brussels. 2009
RIP Boders, UK 2009
RIP Borders, Oxford. 1999 - 2009
RIP Conkey's, Appleton WI. 1897 - 2009
RIP Ballenford Books, Toronto 1986 - 2008
RIP Aida's University Book Exchange, San Luis Obispo
RIP Coliseum Books, NYC 1974 - 2007
RIP Books, Etc. Entire chain, UK 1981 - 2009
RIP Henry Bohn Books, Liverpool. - 2009
RIP Murder Ink, NYC. 1973 - 2007
RIP Borders, Glasgow. 1999 - 2009
RIP Gotham Book Mart, NYC. 1920 - 2007
RIP The Book Room, Halifax. Canada's oldest bookstore. 1839 - 2008
RIP Quinlan Keep Comics, Columbia, MI 2005 - 2007
RIP Morningside Bookshop, NYC 2009
RIP Borders, Newport, CA 2010
RIP Franz Bader Bookstore, NYC. 1953 - 2007
RIP Chapter Two Books Trenholme, Columbia
RIP Barnes & Noble, Harrisburg, PA Never opened - 2008
RIP Borders, Leeds, UK 1999 - 2009
RIP Mystery Loves Company, Oxford, MD. 1991 - 2008
RIP Pages Books, Toronto. 1979 - 2009
RIP Mill Run Booksellers. Milford, PA. 1989 - 2009
RIP The Blue Door. San Diego, CA. 1961 - 2008
RIP unknown Christian Bookstore 2009
RIP Micawber Books. Princeton, NJ. 1981 - 2007
RIP Stacey
RIP Hodge-Podge Books Albany, NY 1982 - 2009
RIP Borders, East London 1999 - 2009
RIP TYPE. Danforth, Toronto 2008 - 2009
RIP Skyline Books, NYC 1990 - 2009
RIP Lambda Rising, DC. 1974 - 2010
RIP Kate
RIP Double Hook Book Shop. Westmont, BC 1974 - 2006
RIP Borders, Bournemouth Square. 2000 - 2009
RIP B. Dalton, Laredo Texas' only bookstore. 2009
RIP Buchhandlung Bookshop, Quedlinburg, Germany 2010
RIP River City Books. Northfield, MN 2002 - 2009
RIP Charlesbank Books. Belmont, Mass, 1994 - 2008
RIP The Mystery Company, Carmel, IN 2003 - 2010
RIP Buck-A-Book Stores Boston, Quincy, Saugus, Bourne 2006
RIP Books For Less, Columbia Mall, SC 2009
RIP Amazon Bookstore Cooperative. 1970 - 2008
RIP The Bookbridge, Lincoln NB 200 - 2007
RIP Point Defiance Books. Tacoma, WA 2009
RIP Borders, London, UK 2009
RIP Ruminator Books, St. Paul, MN 1970 - 2004
RIP Books, Etc. London 2009
RIP WHSmith London 2009
RIP B. Dalton, Jersey City. The city's only bookstore. 2010
RIP Pirie & Cavender Bookshop, Kent. 1949 - 2008
RIP Borders, La Cienega, LA. 2010
RIP A Different Light, W Hollywood, CA. 1979 - 2009
RIP Now & Then Books, Kitchener, BC 1971 - 2007
RIP Libreria Hernandez Bookstore, Madrid. 1852 - 2010
RIP Borders, Llantrisant, Wales 2002 - 2009
RIP Valley Books, Amherst, MA. 1975 - 2009
RIP Last Books, UK 2009
RIP Schwartz Bookshop, Wisconsin Ave, Milwaukee 1974 - 2009
RIP Hughes & Hughes. Dun Laoghaire, Dublin. 2010
RIP Midnight Special Books. Venice, CA. 1970 - 2010
RIP Borders, Silverlink, UK 1998 - 2009
RIP Borders, UK 2009
RIP Oscar Wilde Book Shop, NYC 1967 - 2009
RIP Ben Franklin Bookshop. Nyack, NY 1980 - 2010
RIP Kaydee Bookshop, Clitheroe, UK. 1950 - 2010
RIP Robin's, Philadelphia. 1936 - 2008
RIP Borders, Third St Promenade, Santa Monica, CA. 2009
RIP Bailey/Coy Books, Seattle, WA. 1983 - 2009
RIP MIllions, Charing Cross Road, London. 2009
RIP Siop Lyfrau Blanenau, Wales. 2006
RIP Abraxus Books. Ballard, WA. 2009
RIP Borders, Kingston 2009
RIP Prairie Avenue Bookshop, Chicago. 1974 - 2009
RIP Asahiya Bookstore, NYC 1993 - 2009
RIP M Coy Books. Seattle, WA 1991 - 2009
RIP McNally Robinson, Winnipeg and Toronto locations 1981 - 2009
The Right Way Family Bookstore, Orange City, FL 1985 - 2010
RIP Harry Schwartz Bookshop, Shorewood, Milwaukee 1972 - 2010
RIP Charlesbank Bookshops. Boston, MA. 2010
RIP Borders, Staffordshire, UK 1999 - 2009
RIP Robbs Hexham, UK 2010
RIP Paxon Christian Books
RIP Borders, Kingston, UK. 1999 - 2008
RIP Libreria Lectorum, NYC 1963 - 2007
RIP Barnes & Noble, Chelsea, NY. 1993 - 2008
RIP Paperbacks Plus. Riverdale, Bronx, NY 1968 - 2006
RIP The Couth Buzzard, Seattle. 1998 - 2008
RIP The Finchley Bookshop, Ballard's Lane. 2007
RIP Spenser's Mystery Bookshop 1984 - 2004
RIP Anchor Room Christian Books. Fort Wayne, IND. 1969 - 2009
RIP Sofiankatu Bookshop, Helsinki 2009
RIP Equator Books, Venice, CA. 2005 - 2010
RIP Waterstones, Peterborough, UK 2009
RIP Schwartz Bookshop. Downer Ave, Milwaukee 1972 - 2009
RIP Cook's Library Bookstore, Los Angeles 1989 - 2009
RIP unknown New Age bookstore in Fort Green, Bklyn 2009
RIP Vertigo Books, Baltimore, MD 1992 - 2009
RIP Borders, Costa Mesa. 2000 -2009
RIP Crossroads Christian bookstore. Mobile, Ala. 2001 - 2009
RIP Lighthouse Long Beach, CA. 1945 - 2009
RIP Cheesecake and Crime, Henderson, NV 2009
The Bookstore on West 25th. Cleveland, OH. 1979 - 2009
RIP Morningside Bookshop. Morningside Heights, NY 2009
RIP Epilogue Books. Ballard, WA 2009
RIP Babylon Falling, SF 2007 - 2009
RIP BW Bookshop, Eallng Broadway 2007
RIP Librairie Paris Et Son Patrimonte, Paris. 2009
RIP Stockbridge Bookshop, Endinburg 2007
RIP Dillions, London. 2009
RIP The Fertile Mind. Belfast, Maine. 1980 - 2010
RIP Duttons, North Hollywood, CA 1961 - 2006
RIP Caliope, Washington Heights, NY 1997 - 2009
RIP Beinkinstadt Jewish Book Store. Cape Town. 1903 - 2009
RIP Borders, Stockport, UK 2009
RIP Bury Book Shop, St Edmunds, UK 2007
RIP Dutton's Books, Brentwood CA. 1984 - 2008
RIP Leon's Book Store, San Luis Obispo 1969 - 2008
RIP Lenox Hill Bookstore, NYC 1995 - 2006
RIP Borders, High Street, London. 1999 - 2009
RIP Logos Christian Books. Richmond, VA. 1972 - 2009
RIP Candida's World of Books, DC 2008
RIP Mitchell Family Books. Hamilton, Toronto. 1934 - 2008
RIP Borders Express. Pembroke Pines 2009
RIP Bodhi Tree Bookstore, Los Angeles 1970 - 2010
RIP Berean Christian Bookstore, Cincinatti, OH 1937 - 2007
RIP Duthie's Books, Vancouver, BC 1958 - 2010
RIP Olsson's Books, Washington, DC. 1972 - 2008
RIP Yankee Paperback Exchange. Montpelier, VT 1980 - 2008
RIP Creatures 'n Crooks, Richmond, VA. 1999 - 2009
RIP Das Buch, Montreal QUE. 1993 - 2010
RIP Borders, Buchanon Street, Glasgow. 2009
RIP SSG Bookshops, Scotland 2008
RIP Waldenbooks Hazelton, PA 1990 - 2010
RIP Secondhand Pages, Maricopa, AZ 2007 - 2009
RIP J. O'Donoghue Books Anoka, MN 1970 - 2010
RIP Joseph-Beth Booksellers Cleveland, OH 2010
RIP With a Pipe and Book. Lake Placid, 1980 - 2006
RIP Open Book Co-op, Milwaukee 2008 - 2009
RIP Milestone Books, Birmingham, Alabama 2004 - 2010
RIP Odyssey Bookshop. Novato, CA. 1995 - 2006
RIP Unique Books, Bayonne NJ 2003 - 2010
RIP DARE Books. Fort Green, Brooklyn 1987 - 2004
RIP Drake's Erotic Emporium. 1985 - 2009
RIP The Book Worm, Delhi, India 1977 - 2008
RIP Adventures For Kids. Ventura, CA 2006 - 2008
RIP Christian Science Reading Room, Olympia, WA
RIP Amicus Books. Marysville, CA 2006 - 2010
