The Borders of downtown Evanston will close by the end of April as the national bookseller enters Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, according to a company announcement Wednesday morning.
The closure will eliminate 37 jobs and leave behind nearly 22,000 square feet of unoccupied property, resulting in what one local business owner deemed a “sad day for booksellers.”
Evanston resident B.K. Rao, who was thumbing through a recently-bought newspaper outside the Maple Avenue location Wednesday afternoon, said the store “will be missed.”
“It’s a loss,” she added. “I love books, and it’s a wonderful place.”
On-site staff said they were notified of the closure Wednesday morning. One employee described his initial reaction to the closure announcement as “a little surprised but not shocked.”
Staff asked not to be named as Borders is currently redirecting press inquiries to its national headquarters.
About 30 percent of the chain’s stores will close in the next few weeks.
The impending shutdown will impact downtown Evanston, where there are eight other booksellers within a three-block radius of the Borders property.
Paul Frischer, owner of nearby Market Fresh Books, lamented the breaking news as a somber moment for the publication industry. But he doubted it would bear any drastic effect on his own used-book shop less than two blocks away.
“Initially, their share of the market will be redistributed,” Frischer said. “Used bookstores will benefit from one less competitor in the short term.”
Yet Rao said she views the local Borders as more than just a market presence – it’s a regular part of her daily routine.
“I’m an old lady who walks miles and miles a day, ” she said. “I try to stop by this place whenever I can.”
Weinberg freshman Christopher Anderson, who said he occasionally used the bookstore’s cafe as a study space, was less sympathetic to the community loss. He added that he is still interested in what new retailer could replace the vacant property come May.
“Honestly, there’s a Barnes and Noble nearby,” Anderson said. “I won’t really miss it.”
Mary Davis, Borders’ public relations manager, said the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based company is “looking at various scenarios” for management-level employees affected by the upcoming closures.
The disposition of all closed properties will be handled by DJM Realty, according to a press release posted on the company’s new informational website, http://www.bordersreorganization.com. Brooke Horn, DJM’s marketing director, did not return requests for comment Wednesday evening.
