Just a few weeks ago another one of the Borders -Books-Music-Café bites the dust and another community feels the loss of a great bookstore.
Borders was for many, more than a bookstore or just a café, it was a place for individuals, families, couples and employees-on off times-unwind and browse through a great selection of new books, magazines, dvds and music while enjoying their favorite cup of Coffee or blended beverage among other options. The staff, regulars and ongoing support in the community for the operations in Davenport was among the best. It was the best combination of people who came to find solace in the written word and a friendly staff who helped you to find exactly what you were looking for. The experience of coffee and books in a warm (or air-conditioned!) atmosphere with friendly people, intelligent, passionate and funny conversations was unlike anything else.
A great day for the Quad Cities happened in 1998 when Borders staked its family roots into the soil of the Quad Cities. Development followed, impacting the community creating a hub for shopping, eating and meeting people.
Back in 2000, my father Jim Vandercoy passed away, but I remember how much I enjoyed the visits to bookstores he took me to including Borders when it opened. I have almost all my books while growing up and barely had the heart to part with my memories over the years. I like many have resold hundreds of titles back into the hands of second hand booksellers for some pocket money. It comes back around however and always love that experience, that feeling of leafing through a new book and rediscovering the lost art of reading. My father and Mother always read to me and had books around to inspire my imagination.
When I went away to college in Iowa City, I was excited to get away and experience the college life including; parties, friends, new classes, psychology, love, life, cheap booze and pizza. I continued my love for books and developed a love for café’s and coffee while living in the college town. Working for Starbucks, I realized coffee allowed me to finish papers, meet people, and keep me inspired. Since I never found a bookstore that truly resonated with me and became a café regular. I also enjoyed the used book stores available to me between classes. I loved the time spent in Iowa City except I always had to stop in Borders during my visits back to the Quad Cities. There was just some warm comfort associated with borders that only certain quaint used book stores could create. I may have lived far away, but In my mind, Borders was always close to home.
I wondered what would happen after Iowa City with my degree almost in hand, not knowing if I truly had one place to reconcile my indifferent feelings about a second home, I would be soon out of my lease and ready to move forward. I almost stayed in Coralville/Iowa City but in 2008, a flood changed my plans causing me to move back home. For a while I really missed Iowa City and I was out of my comfort zone, so where else could I go to find myself and realize my future? Borders.
I started frequenting Borders more and more a few days a week, finding time to relax between work and meeting up with friends. Thats how I was able to meet many wonderful people. I could never forget those who added something great to my life and past employees who made my stops memorable. It was the Café staff and booksellers who truly understood the concept of customer service and what it meant to bring your best face to work. I always value staff and barista’s who know how to joke around, not be perfect, not be stuck up, smile, laugh and have stories to share. The relaxed atmosphere of Borders allowed people to be comfortable and let people just be. My ongoing trips through Borders allowed me to find the resources I needed to pursue my passions and realize my goals. Even during sad times, Borders was a place I could go to, think and laugh with those I had made connections with, even when that connection was a simple smile and “How are you doing today?.” Companies preach about going “above” the expectation for the company to create a true customer connection, but how many just have those sardonic or stolid responses? The staff was genuine and while there is no perfect experience, there was not a single day I felt detached.
Most know the story by now, the downfall and the reasons to Borders demise. It is too bad the proper decisions were not made many years earlier, but the more important thing is to remember the good times. It isn’t e-readers fault or the fact that people used Borders to scope out books, later to purchase on Amazon. Well..maybe a bit, although while connected it was many things and not one or two causing this ship to sink. There was too much expansion for an older college bookstore model-thanks K-Mart(Purchased Borders in 1992). They tried to compete with the large Big-Box stores such as Barns & Noble and did not have the money to back it's expansion into huge super-stores. Also, while Borders had the Sony E-reader(yes I bought one) early on, there wasn't a huge push towards the changing book industry. There was no way to compete with an online wholesale low overhead of Amazon, Borders just didn't change fast enough with the times. The move to partner up with Amazon instead of launching it's own site deemed to be poor decision. These are just what I've read and my opinion, but it all makes too much sense. Are big-box book stores fading? This is another topic, but I think it is the case.
Maybe I was a minority, but I bought most of my books at borders with my rewards and plus reward discounts. Often I received 30-40% of items and free drinks which was on-par with Amazon and allowed me to really decide if I wanted the book I purchased before buying it. It’s difficult to get the feel of a book online in my opinion. Most of the time I spend time looking at books, going to Amazon to get the reviews, waiting for my rewards coupons and buying the item at my local store.
As borders took a speed train through Bankruptcy-land, I like many in the Quad Cities felt our store would not be affected due to the great location and the fact the store seemed busy. I was in denial like many, but tried to find hope the darker prophecies.
I remember spending the day before the court’s decision in Borders bankruptcy reading a book I discovered at Borders originally. Thanks to http://www.Penny-Arcade.com, I went back and started the series. The book was the sequel to “The Name of the Wind” by Patrick Rothfuss entitled “The Wise Man's Fear” (BUY IT!). A passage was a red herring to the near future of Borders and our beloved bookstore. It reminded me of the sadness of the employees, customers and people faced with uncertain futures yet to come. In “The Wise Man's Fear” an Innkeeper past his prime, living from the memories of adventures long ago has a scribe recording his history. The scribe known as The Chronicler recalls the scene about the current state of things. “It’s not just you,” Kote said. “Things are bad, and my gut tells me they’ll get worse yet. It wouldn’t hurt a man to get ready for a hard winter. And maybe see that he can defend himself if need be.” The innkeeper shrugged. “That’s what my gut tells me, anyway.”…”Still,” he said, “you’ve got to make hay while the sun shines.” The inkeeper’s hands gripped and pulled, gripped and pulled. The only sounds were the rhythmic creak of the wood and the slow patter of the cider as it ran into the bucket below. There was a rhythm to it, but no music, and the inkeeper’s eyes were distant and joyless, so pale and green they almost could have passed for gray.”
After the news, I spent the last few days reading, conversing and wondering if I took this store for granted, if I had caused part of the demise. I’m just an ex-poor college student looking for a home away from home and the little money I have, I spend on coffee, books and movies. Although this is our economy I suppose, I still believe we all had a part in the downfall. The final day I bid goodbye to close friends and spent time with my girlfriend Kelsey playing mancala, having a wonderful time with the hint of coffee beans still present in the air. 
On Friday, July 22nd, borders remaining stores went into liquidation and ended the Borders saga in the Quad Cities
The story doesn't have to end here however, it isn’t too late to write a letter to Books-A-Million and let them know how much we cared for our store and our community. It isn't too late to make a stand and say we want and NEED another new bookstore in the Quad Cities. 300,000+ people and 1 big box on the other side of town is what we have. The location is perfect and I believe the numbers will show big business it can survive. Already, the local newspapers have been contacted and support has come from all over outside and around the Quad Cities to save Quad Cities Best Bookstore! The times has and will be posting articles about this for some time, so why not let BAM know we want them here!Please Join “Save our best Quad Cities Bookstore” on Facebook and write/call or both to Books-A-Million
"YOU can help keep a bookstore at the 4000 east 53rd street, davenport IA location!
Let Books-A-Million Know You Care:
Include this line in a Letter, Email, or Phone Call Their Way:
“Save our best Quad City Bookstore:
Make it a new Books-A-Million in Davenport, IA”
Books-A-Million
402 Industrial Lane
Birmingham, AL 35211
Email: support@booksamillion.com
Call: 1-800-201-3550”
What would you like to see move into the Davenport 4000 location?
0 comments:
Post a Comment