Border’s: A Tribute to a Store that will Never be Forgotten.

Take a deep breath, take a look around you, take in all that you see, because the things that exist now may not exist 5 - 10 - or 20 years from now.

When large bookstores came into the picture many people cautioned “This will be the end of the independent bookstores.”  This may have been true for a majority of small shop owners. Now one of the superstores has declared bankruptcy — Borders.

Why do I care?  I love books.  I love the independent book sellers, I use to work as a page at a small town Library, and yes I have also worked a bookseller for Border’s Bookstore in Champaign Illinois for the last 3.5 years while going to college. 

Before I started working at the store I was already a loyal customer. I loved the laid back atmosphere compared to Barnes & Noble, the eclectic group of employees who dressed in worn t-shirts and jeans, and the coffee shop that actually made sure the coffee was brewed properly so that the grinds didn’t sit at the bottom like the overpriced Starbuck’s coffees.

After working at Borders I came to have a newfound love for the bookstore.  The employees became my family, I am proud to say that I have read 76 of 100 books on the BBC’s list of 100 books everyone should read before they die.  I have a handful of regular customers that make me smile each day I see them such as Kevin and his wife.  Everyday Kevin comes in I know to have a bag of Ghiradelli peanut butter chocolate waiting for him at the checkout, and in return I reveive cd’s of his bluegrass band while he and his wife proudly show me the pictures of their first grandson.  There’s Priscilla who orders the same Oreo Javakula every time she comes in, with carmel drizzled on the top opposed to chocolate.

Yes, as you must be thinking not all of the customers are amazing.  Like all retail shops I get yelled at for a book being too expensive, for a coupon being expired, or for not having an item in stock.  As unbearable as customers may be, it’s nice to know that we can laugh about it with a co-worker.

I’ll miss my employee discount, I’ll miss the Seattle’s Best Coffee every morning, and I’ll miss each person that I’ve worked with.  Most of all I will miss that Borders was a place that I could always come back to.  Everytime I’ve left for school, or taken time off I’ve always known that I would have a job waiting for me.  It is so incredibly bitter sweet to see that end.

The end…

Most would think that as a company comes to an end the employees would become discouraged… not the employees at Border’s store 182.

We find hiding spots to scare each other, have going away parties, meet at the bar after a long day of work, plan capture the flag games when the store is cleared, joke about the number of people asking for jobs, laugh at people who ask if we can look something up for them, and still smile when a person says “I’m looking for an orange book with words on it.”

We make facebook pages called “the ghosts of borders,” help each other job hunt, take pleasure in finding “hidden stashes of books,” and tell each other about each sassy comback we have for a customer who complains.

So…

When you walk into a closing Border’s remember this:

1. There are people losing their jobs at the stake of your 25% discount

2. Stop complaining about the discount being too low! It is drawn out so that the thousands of people losing their jobs may find another one!

3. Our bathrooms are out of order because YOU the customer won’t stop abusing your restroom privledges by crapping on the floors.

4. The hundreds of dollars you are spending now that everything is on discount may have helped save this store originally.

5. When we say we can’t look for something for you it is because we have no idea where it is.

6. You don’t have to tell us that you are sorry the store is closing, we know you are and so are we.

7. Don’t be rude to us, we have no reason not to be rude back.

8. Please don’t complain about the mess, we don’t have the manpower to straighten shelves anymore.

To those of you who have been loyal customers:

Thank you.  We appreciate all that you did to try and save us.  We will not forget your kindness.

To Borders:

Thank you.  You have given me friendships, entertainment, and laughter.  Thank you for the three years that I was able to be a part of this corporation, but more importantly thank you for the 22 years that I have been able to take part in all that you offer.