Mr. Clyde B. Anderson, CEO
Books-A-Million

Dear Mr. Anderson

“My” Border’s store is closing.

No, I don’t work for Border’s and never have; nor am I in the real estate business. Like many retail customers of specialty shops I take “ownership” of the places I like.

The nearest Books-A-Million store is in Brandon Town Center — about twenty miles from here.

I would love to see an alternative to Barnes and Noble in my area.

“My store”, Border’s #171, located at 12500 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Tampa, FL 33618 is a 25,000+ square foot building purpose-built in 1996 as a Border’s bookstore. It’s getting a bit long in the tooth and could use a bit of sprucing up in addition to needing a new tenant in fairly short order.

You can see details on the property here:
http://www.hcpafl.org/CamaDisplay.aspx?OutputMode=Display&SearchType=RealEstate&ParcelID=182809ZZZ000000836700U

The store is located in the middle of an established upscale neighborhood which had an estimated median household income greater than $60,000 in 2009.

There is physical competition in the area. A Barnes & Noble store is located a couple blocks South of Border’s and a small independent new/used book store is located two blocks to the North. Additionally there are a Walmart and a Target a couple miles to the North and another Walmart a couple miles South of Border’s. A Sam’s Club is located approximately three miles North of the store.

Mr. Anderson, I realize we’re in the midst of uncertain economic times and capitalizing a new retail store requires serious thought, analysis and dollars. But, I also can’t help but think that, upon hearing of Border’s reorganization plans, you started looking at the possibility of expansion.

If I’m right I’d greatly appreciate you considering our area.

One thing you probably wouldn’t have too much trouble with is finding experienced, bright and enthusiastic booksellers to staff a new store.

While I don’t know about the folks in the other two Border’s being shuttered in Hillsborough County, the folks at store 171 are superb.

Thank you for taking  time to read this letter.

Sincerely,

Elmer Hurlstone

Breaking a habit is rarely an easy thing to accomplish. During the disengagement process unease sets in. Loss is felt. It doesn’t matter what type of habit it is—good, bad or innocuous–you’ll notice the change.

Since closing my off-line service business and “retiring” a few years ago one of my habits has been to have coffee at my local Border’s store. Several times a week I’d hop in my truck and drive four miles, bypassing a few other coffee sellers, to get my caffeine fix.

This little jaunt served a couple purposes. Firstly, it got me out of the house which I’m sure my wife appreciated. (She has a magnet on the fridge that states, “A retired husband becomes a wife’s full-time job.”) And, secondly, it provided socialization and books. Socialization is thought to be good for all but hermits and books, to me, are an absolute essential.

Border’s Group, Inc., the parent of Border’s Books, filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection in the Federal Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York yesterday. The petition, in part, requests the courts permission to quickly close about 200 Border’s retail stores. Among the stores to be closed are all three in Hillsborough County, Florida. Since I live in Hillsborough County “my Carrollwood Border’s” is one of them. And I ain’t happy. Read the rest of this entry