Border Books Closure

Announcement of the closure of four Border Books that I frequent hit me hard.

I wasn't the least bit surprised that they were in financial crises.

I was surprised by the number of store closures in my area.

Today I visited a Border Books, the last one standing in my area, and it was busy. People were queued in line waiting for the next register.

Teens were perusing the diary and board game selections.

Folks were decked out  in the coffee section sipping Seattle Best  branded coffees, lattes and cappuccinos frantically pecking away on their keyboards.

And here and there I spied a dog-eared book that I knew no one would buy.

So you're wondering if anything was different, right? Well yea, gone were the over stuffed comfy chairs that flanked the entrance.

Gone were the chairs and tables dispersed among the aisles.

Gone were the throngs of teens  spread out and overflowing in the aisles as they shared chairs, talked, texted and giggled over dog-eared books.

I could walk the aisle and browse the magazine  and book sections with ease. I could navigate the store without tripping over someone's backpack.

Shopping at Border Books was a pleasant experience again. I found fewer dog-eared books and a neater, uncluttered, welcoming experience.

Heck, I even took the time to browse the DVD and music sections - I hadn't done this in years. I made my purchases after shopping for 25 minutes and, provided Border Books maintains a neat, clutter-free store, I will return.