Border's bookstore to close 16 stores in chicago and it's suburbs (Matteson: coupon, to buy)

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by allen2323

Matteson just by the sheer percent of growth of middle class residents

Link? Proof?

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by allen2323

black middle class flight from chicago.

Link? Proof?

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by Cambridge31

Pretty sure Borders is in the 46th Ward...Helen Shrillers old ward...

WRONG AGAIN.

http://www.aldermanshiller.com/images/wardmap.jpg

[urza216]

Originally Posted by tonythetuna

Aren't you one of those that go there, read things, and don't buy printed materials? You have a lot of nerve talking about someone that actually buys things in bookstores kiddo.

Umm.. What? These two things have nothing to do with each other. You're really stretching.

First of all, I bought a (normally) eleven dollar book, a magazine and wrapping paper at the going out of business sale. So there goes that.

Second of all, I couldn't even begin to estimate how much money I've funneled into Borders over the years, both from buying four dollar drinks in the cafe, brownies and occasionally buying a book or another product. Most of these people who have no respect for the aesthetics of the store and leave books all over the place prabobly haven't even stepped foot in Borders for years. If someone went on a hundred dollar shopping spree the other day for their going out of business sale, I can guarantee you I've spent quite a bit more than that in the past year. Everyone who works in the cafe at Borders in Matteson knows my name. It was my place to go and relax. I know the whole store front and backwards like my own house and I've even helped out customers before who thought I worked there.

Third of all, what do you think the cafe is for? It's for reading books in the store over a cup of coffee or a coffee drink (the two are not the same thing - it's not "a four dollar cup of coffee" because it's not coffee, lol. That's like calling a milk shake "milk"). Have you ever been inside Borders cafes? It's a place to sit and chat with someone, read a book from your store by yourself or take take advantage of the free wi-fi if you have a labtop. Not all Borders are like this but at the Borders in Matteson, there are three cushioned chairs in front of almost every section of the book store! What do you think these chairs are for? They're for reading the books at the store, that's what! You're talking like reading a book at Borders without buying it is some kind of deviant behavior. It's not. It's not illegal and it's not "frowned upon" either. It's expected and ordinary.

[urza216]

Originally Posted by tonythetuna

Link? Proof?

The front page article of today's Southtown Star is about how "hisorically white southland towns" like Matteson has seen an influx of "middle class minorities". There are three articles inside today's Southtown Star that I seriously think Humbold1 should read.

Originally Posted by allen2323

By the way Azizi Books in lincoln mall I believe will be the only bookstore in matteson after borders closes.

Aside from fading memories, Azizi Books is the only thing that makes Lincoln Mall special anymore. No, I didn't say shoppable. I said special.


Anyway, let's get back to talking about Borders....
I wanna hear from some north/west suburbanites and city folk who haven't even heard of Lincoln Mall before.

[allen2323]

Originally Posted by tonythetuna

Link? Proof?

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that a decline in chicago's black middle class population has meant an influx of middle class blacks in the far southern suburbs. I am black and I live in the area. I can see first hand where most of the new influx of middle class black residents are coming from. Mostly chicago and closer in suburbs that have also experienced black middle class flight over the past decade do to former CHA residents moving in. Matteson's population has grown by 47 percent since 2000.

Not surprised about black migration to burbs - Chicago Sun-Times

[urza216]

Originally Posted by urza216

The front page article of today's Southtown Star is about how "hisorically white southland towns" like Matteson has seen an influx of "middle class minorities". There are three articles inside today's Southtown Star that I seriously think Humbold1 should read.

Whoops, I was actually talking about yesterday's Southtown Star, the Sunday paper. I threw a stack of them out in the dumpster during my overnight shift.

[andrew61]

Originally Posted by urza216

Anyway, let's get back to talking about Borders....
I wanna hear from some north/west suburbanites and city folk who haven't even heard of Lincoln Mall before.

I'm a North Sider and I'd never heard of Lincoln Mall before I read this thread. As far as I can remember, the only south suburban mall I've ever been to is River Oaks, and only because I had a friend in Hegewisch who took me there a few times.

I don't think I've ever even been to Matteson.

I was in the Lakeview Borders (Broadway/Clark/Diversey) today... Although it was a lot busier than usual and the checkout line was pretty long, the place still looked mostly intact except for the 20% off signs all over the place. Books in place on shelves, no materials strewn about haphazardly.

Man, I'm really going to miss that place. It's been a favorite hangout of mine for the past 15 years.

[tonythetuna]

Originally Posted by urza216

The front page article of today's Southtown Star is about how "hisorically white southland towns" like Matteson has seen an influx of "middle class minorities". There are three articles inside today's Southtown Star that I seriously think Humbold1 should read.

Originally Posted by allen2323

There is plenty of anecdotal evidence that a decline in chicago's black middle class population has meant an influx of middle class blacks in the far southern suburbs.

When I see numbers from the census showing a large amount of middle class blacks moved out of the city, maybe I will believe it.

[Bluefox]

I don't know...I think Borders and Barnes and Noble are well aware of the fact that many people just come there to read with no intent to purchase.

Every time I have purchased a book it has been after reading it there. But I have not purchased a book every time I have sat and read there. From my perspective as a consumer, if I'm just browsing for books, I would not go to a store where I could not do that without being obligated to purchase a book.

I haven't seen any signs saying no books in the coffee shop area, and furthermore people take their coffee into the bookstore area anyway. You're just as apt to spill coffee on a book sitting in a chair outside the coffee shop as you are sitting in a chair inside one.