Borders in the Village to Close Doors Tonight

The Grosse Pointe will close its doors for the final time tonight after purging nearly all of its inventory and even fixtures. 

Dozens of customers perused the limited selection of books, magazines and maps left Wednesday afternoon while at least one hauled a tall wooden bookshelf from the store located in the Village. 

The store is one of 200 within the Ann Arbor-based company following the approval from a federal bankruptcy court to reorganize. The stores on the list have been identified as under-performing.

Its closure was announced in mid-February and the location has had liquidation sales since, most recently posting signs in the windows noting 80 to 90 percent off. Signs throughout the store Wednesday noted consumers could purchase anything left for 99-cents or less. 

Manager Peter Dame said some preliminary inquiries have been expressed about the building but nothing can happen until the bankruptcy court releases the property to its owner, which is a real estate investment trust in New York. Despite renting the property, Borders had a special agreement with the owners allowing the bookstore to retain all ownership rights, which is why the bankruptcy court must release it, Dame said. 

Patch is awaiting a return call from Borders media relations regarding what happens next with the building, the employees and the limited contents of the nearly empty store. 

Grosse Point Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Jenny Boettcher said although the building is being discussed within the business community, no specific interests have been expressed of which she is aware. 

Borders vacancy in the Village is the first major store to leave since Jacobson's departure in the 1990s. City officials and business owners are hopeful the large space will offer a new venture a good opportunity. The 19,000-square- foot building is one of the largest single spaces in the Village.