This afternoon I went to Borders to write, a usual afternoon activity. With the gift cards I get from my family on any holiday that warrants gifts, I’m hooked on buying a vanilla bean cremekula. As the gal reaches for my Borders membership and gift cards, she always asks if I’d like a pastry too.
Not today. The pastry showcase was bare. Bottles of coffee flavoring syrups were for sale. A sign said, “Changing vendors”.
I thought the empty case and the sign odd, but, in the crowded cafe, I was intent on finding a table. I asked a woman working on her laptop if I could join her and then sat down and began to write in a notebook–and sip the smooth and creamy drink. Another woman asked to join us. Three of us, related only by our love of bookstores, comfortably and silently passed an hour.
After stopping at Staples on my way home to buy a new notebook, I got home in time to hear the sad tale on the evening news. Borders, my beloved Borders, is on the way out.
I’m still in shock that it may really happen. Of course, I’ve seen other Borders closing around Chicago, but never thought it would happen at MY Borders on State Street downtown. I just found this online account by the WSJ.
I’m feeling incredibly sad. If you’d like, let me know how you feel about brick and mortar stores going by the wayside…
Write Along with Me 
I am saddened by this too. I am forever a book lover! I do own a Kindle and I love how light and ez it is to have in my purse for daily reading. But I have a deep love of book stores. The way they smell. The way they can be full of people but so quiet and peaceful. The way you can have quiet comfortable hours with strangers like you did. It’s sad that we are losing such a place. 😦
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Oh yes, the smell! The entire ambiance. Thanks for writing; your note is comforting in this sort of virtual wake.
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I had similar feelings in referring to Chicago’s lakefront and ‘S-curve.’ How dare ‘they’ straighten out MY S-curve, or let MY Marshall Fields become a Macy’s. I wanted MY Frangos!
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Amen! I hope I’m not just showing my age, my love for nostalgia!
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If your love for nostalgia is a sign of age, then I’m in trouble! I don’t think you are!
I recently took at trip to San Diego and found 3 beautiful used book shops. All three of them combined would have fit inside my small one bedroom apartment, but I spent at least an hour in each of them. What a find! 🙂
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Thanks for reminding me nostalgia can come at any age! Those bookstores sound wonderful. I love smallish, independent Prairie Lights in Iowa City, too.
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Hi, Lois! Could I use the photo you took of the cafe in a post on Findery.com? I used to work there, and it’s the best photo I can find of the place. I’ll link back to this post and credit you, of course!
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Whoops. I meant *this* post: https://loisroelofs.com/2011/07/21/cremekulas-no-more-at-borders-on-state/
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Yes you may and thanks so much for asking. I loved this Borders!
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