Business & Tech

Bryn Mawr Borders to Close, Among 399 Remaining Stores

After the Borders Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February, the company is planning to close all remaining stores by the end of September.

The Bryn Mawr Borders, spared in February’s , is now among the 399 remaining stores that will liquidate as early as Friday.

It is not yet clear when the Bryn Mawr location, which employs 30, will close, though all stores are expected to shut down by the end of September, according to a company statement.

management said they are not allowed to comment on the liquidation plans announced July 18, and deferred comment to a national Borders spokesperson, whose voice mailbox was full as of Tuesday afternoon.

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“Following the best efforts of all parties, we are saddened by this development,” said Borders Group President Mike Edwards, according to a statement released by the company. “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.”

Bryn Mawr resident Carol Kelley was shopping at Borders on Tuesday evening for a book she’d heard reviewed on the radio a while ago. She said she'd heard about Borders' plans to close.

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“I was astonished, but then, you know, with Amazon…” Kelley said. “I don’t think people are as literate as they used to be. I don’t think people read as much. I’m sad.”

She said she’s concerned about Rosemont Square and the community at large with Borders’ impending closing and largely credited that store with the old Bryn Mawr Barnes & Noble closing. Still, Kelley said she doesn’t go to Borders very often.

“I guess I’m part of the reason they’re closing,” she said. “It’s a shame.”

Debbie Singer, of Villanova, was also shopping at Borders on Tuesday evening and had not yet heard of Borders’ closing.

“I hate that,” said Singer, adding she goes to Borders a lot, especially at Christmastime. “I just enjoy coming here… It’s community-building to me. You see people you know.”

Though Singer said she has a Kindle, she said she still likes being able to pass good actual books along to friends.

“I have to hope that another bookstore will come in—I’m really going to miss it,” Singer said.

When the Borders Group filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in February, they closed 200 underperforming stores, among them the King of Prussia Borders. At that time, the Borders stores in Bryn Mawr, Wynnewood and Exton remained open.

“I extend a heartfelt thanks to all of our dedicated employees and our loyal customers,” Edwards said in the statement.


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