Borders closing stores in Pittsburgh (Liberty, Monroe: leases, bankruptcy, shop)

[Geeo]

Well, at least I'll still have my Saturday outings to the Carnegie Library in Oakland. That should be around for a while, I hope!

[hornet67]

Very sad, but not surprising news. I have spent more time and money than I care to admit at the Highland Road store, and have enjoyed it ever since it opened, as I live 3 miles away. I hope " my " store gets a stay of execution.
Borders has indeed made numerous poor business decisions, and the bookstore/ publishing industry is in serious decline, but I will NEVER buy a bloody kindle !
Barnes & Noble are all sizzle, no steak. Attractive stores, with very limited inventory, and little in the way of sales or coupons, oustside of their remainder section. For substance, Borders always had them beat; sad that the better store will likely disappear.

[rhondee]

Originally Posted by toosie

Ugh that sucks. First B&N in Squirrel Hill and now Borders in East Liberty. Thanks for the info, Fleetie.

And Joseph Beth Bookseller/ Southside Works closed also. Very sad!

[rhondee]

Originally Posted by Geeo

Well, at least I'll still have my Saturday outings to the Carnegie Library in Oakland. That should be around for a while, I hope!

I don't know, libraries are in trouble, too! I have to admit buying books online is very convenient but I always like to look through and peruse before purchasing. I guess that's the trade off.

[raubre]

I seem to remember The Carnegie Library having financial issues in recent years.

[rhondee]

KDKA news tonight said both Northway Mall and Pittsburgh Mills Border's stores will stay open.

[raubre]

Originally Posted by rhondee

KDKA news tonight said both Northway Mall and Pittsburgh Mills Border's stores will stay open.

I don't know anything about Pittsburgh Mills (never been there) but from what I thought, not many people shop there. If that's the case, why would they keep open that Borders?

[zip95]

Originally Posted by raubre

I don't know anything about Pittsburgh Mills (never been there) but from what I thought, not many people shop there. If that's the case, why would they keep open that Borders?

Because the South Hills and Monvroeville Borders locations have B&N's right across the street that do much more business.... Pittsburgh Mills only has Borders

[greg42]

Yeah, South Hills and Monroeville were obvious with the B&Ns so close. I do wonder about Mills, though. They would close anything considering "underperforming". Lack of competition alone is not a consideration. So it must be doing reasonably okay. As you can see, they are set to close the newest store in town in East Liberty even though there is not competition around there. It's just the wrong spot for such a store I guess. And from what I could tell, it wasn't a particularly well-run unit in the chain either.

Oddly, another thing is that all the stores closing are the big ones. None of their silly old mall stores are closing at this point (though they closed a lot of those already, true). In Columbus, for example, they are closing the two big stores and keeping an old mall store (I don't know where it is) that in the store listing is still considered a Waldenbooks! Ancient stuff there. So maybe the fact that the Mills place is actually integral to the mall is a factor in it doing better, oddly enough. One of the two stores closing in Columbus is store #2. South Hills Pittsburgh is store #9. Sad times. I remember Store #2 fondly as my first intro to the company back in the early 90s. Then I traveled out of the way down to the south hills until they finally put the one at Northway Mall.

And yeah, how often do I go there now? Not too often. I'm actually finding that I read a lot fewer books at this point. Damn internet.

[BrianTH]

Given that pattern, it could be a lease issue as well.