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You Said It: What Should Replace Borders?
Everyone's got opinions. Patch is the place to share them. So we asked the Pointes: What should replace the closing Borders in the Village?
The Grosse Pointe Borders is slated to close by late April after the company announced a list of 200 stores nationally that were underperforming. The list is part of the Ann Arbor-based company's restructuring plan after filing for bankruptcy.
Its closure will leave a 19,000-square-foot building empty in the Village. This week Patch asked Borders patrons and others in the Village the following question: what would you like to see move into the soon-to-be closed Borders location?
Each day Patch will share another response to the question, so check back!
You can also join the conversation! Just log in to post a comment or video answer, or email Sara.Martin@patch.com.
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Sara Eaton Martin
4:08 pm on Monday, February 28, 2011
Reader Gary Marcicano sent a suggestion via email: "A really good gourmet Fruit Market like Vince and Joes!"
Mark VanOsdol
10:43 pm on Monday, February 28, 2011
I'm interested to see what other people say but I think Tanya is dead on.
Sandy Brown
6:25 pm on Wednesday, March 2, 2011
I agree that a fruit market like Vince & Joe's would be nice but I don't see that happening with Trader Joe's across the street and the renovated Kroger. I think a Target Store would be great. Target seems to appeal to many people, the Borders space would seem to work for a Target store and it may bring more people to the Village where they may stay and shop the other stores there.
Sara Eaton Martin
6:37 pm on Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Reader Cindy O'Connor shared an idea: "I think a mini mall with a collection of different stores would do well. Since there is so much square footage there are not many stores that would go in alone."
michael fellberg
6:00 pm on Tuesday, March 8, 2011
I too am very sad to see this great store close. The best suggestion I have heard is to develop the space into a cluster of indivdual shops, similiar to the "covered alley collection of shops" in Ann Arbor. There are many small business owners or potential owners that would benefit from such a option. Look across the street to the "walk way" where the tailorshop, and grosse pointe geek are, on steroids! Certainly no one would want to bring in a competitor to the stores that are currently supporting the village.
Frances Banka
11:47 am on Thursday, March 3, 2011
I think that something along the lines of Lush Cosmetics or a Victoria's Secret with a Pink store would do very well in the location. It is a huge space so more than one store could certainly fit in there. A Whole Foods would make a killing, but I'm sure Trader Joes and Kroger won't allow that to happen.
Linda J Ferguson
12:41 pm on Thursday, March 3, 2011
The Neighborhood Club is being closed. It's a block behind Borders. I know the Borders site is too commercially desirable to go to a new Neighborhood Club. But it will be sorely missed. I hope there are plans for a new one. As for Borders I'll miss it. It's hard too think it wasn't performing well. I don't think I've ever been there when there were fewer than 10 or 12 people. Usually more! Whatever happens I hope it adds to the stroll and visit ambience that makes it such a fun area!
Denine Boyle
7:27 pm on Thursday, March 3, 2011
The Neighborhood Club is not closing but joining forces with Beaumont Hospital. They will be building or expanding to create a fitness center on the parking lot outside the resale shop. The Neighborhood Club will continue to offer and operate as they are now but adding more family/children services.
Sara Eaton Martin
9:26 pm on Thursday, March 3, 2011
Denine is right, the Neighborhood Club is not closing up shop. They are expanding to offer more services to the Grosse Pointes and Harper Woods. Construction on the joint project is slated to begin this year sometime.
Pete Waldmeir, GP Woods
1:24 pm on Thursday, March 3, 2011
Personally, I think Victoria's Secret is a luscious idea! The big day at my house is when the mail man arrives with my catalog. However, maybe a Lane Bryant version of Vickie's Secret might be more appropriate in the Grosse Pointes. How about turning the Borders building into another Sunrise and make Victoria's Secret the gift shop?
Patty
8:51 am on Friday, March 4, 2011
I would like to see a small movie theater!
ScottBrown
3:25 pm on Friday, March 4, 2011
How about a Barnes & Noble? Seems about the right size and it's filled with books...
Kelly Martin Rahaim
10:15 am on Saturday, March 5, 2011
I think a bowling alley would be great!! I remember Woods Lanes on Mack in GPW when I was a kid and we loved going bowling there.
Chris
6:42 pm on Sunday, March 6, 2011
How about a movie theater? It would be so nice to have a local theater again. I still miss the Woods and the Shores-Madrid.