Borders bookstore on Oxford Street to close

**editor** · 13-07-2009 10:20

Shame. It was always handy for a free read.

One of the few decent stores at the eastern end of Oxford Street is to close. Borders will withdraw from their flagship store, as well as four other locations around the country (in Blanchardstown, Llantrisant, London Colney and Swindon). The struggling book chain last month brought in Clearwater Corporate Finance to advise on 'funding opportunities', which turns out to mean 'store closures'. It is unclear when the branches will close, or how many staff will lose their jobs, but Borders have confirmed that the leases have been sold to a 'fashion retailer'. All the more reason to visit London's many and varied independent book shops.

http://londonist.com/2009/07/borders..._oxford_st.php

**Minnie_the_Minx** · 13-07-2009 10:30

and an opportunity to take photos of photos

**perplexis** · 13-07-2009 10:30

But Foyle's is still going strong, which makes me happy.

**el-ahrairah** · 13-07-2009 10:32

Seeing as security guards are amongst the first to be laid off during a store closure like this, I imagine that Borders will remain handy for a free read, at least for a few days. I will investigate later. With a nice big bag.

**Hocus Eye.** · 13-07-2009 10:48

Most bookshops are quite happy to leave people browsing their books. They know that people who spend ages reading books in the shop are the same people who spend lots of money on books. I do it a lot but then I know that eventually I will leave with a (paid for) book. Sadly the demise of Borders will leave only Waterstones which I understand is part of WH Smith.

Perhaps there was never really room in the market for another chain bookshop. There is plenty of room for independents though, but they have also been in decline for a long time.

As for photographing a book, I have done that in a library - better quality than using the photo-copier but wouldn't want to appear on the video security system of a retailer while photographing their merchandise.

**Housmans** · 13-07-2009 13:57

Been on the cards for a while - theyve been looking for a buyer, but no joy. Worse is likely yet to come.

Good ridance - Borders have been actively union-busting in their operations. No tears shed here.

**BiddlyBee** · 13-07-2009 14:00

It's not closing completely... there's a store round the corner on Charing Cross Rd.

**quimcunx** · 13-07-2009 14:05

Shame to lose a bookshop slap bang in the middle of Oxford Street though.

I haven't worked near a decent big bookshop for years now and I miss it. I only occasionally get to Waterstones at Piccadilly or that Borders these days.

**newbie** · 13-07-2009 14:08

I can't imagine the Blackwells on Charing Cross Road will last that long either, it's always nearly deserted when I go in there.

**100% masahiko** · 13-07-2009 14:12

Borders and Foyles on Charing Cross for a free read.

Does anyone know a similar book shop to Compendium (around in the 90s in Camden)?

**Vintage Paw** · 13-07-2009 14:15

Originally Posted by Hocus Eye.

Sadly the demise of Borders will leave only Waterstones which I understand is part of WH Smith.

No, it is part of HMV.

**Oswaldtwistle** · 13-07-2009 14:20

Originally Posted by editor

Shame. It was always handy for a free read.

I guess that was the problem!

**newbie** · 13-07-2009 15:14

Originally Posted by 100% masahiko

Borders and Foyles on Charing Cross for a free read.

Does anyone know a similar book shop to Compendium (around in the 90s in Camden)?

I wish.

Housemans is the closest but (no disrespect) not a patch on Compendium.

**jæd** · 13-07-2009 15:25

I'll miss them as they had a good selection of everything. Only problem is that Amazon is still miles better and cheaper. (Although bookstores are always good for a browse...)

I'll always remember the first Borders I went in when I was in Singapore. At least the back quarter of the ground floor was full of Singaporans sitting on the floor reading the books. (It was by a small park so it was excellent for buying a book or mag and then chilling out for a bit at lunch time...)

**Pie 1** · 13-07-2009 15:31

Won't miss their books section - I've always remained loyal to Foyles on that front in London. But they did have a bloody excellent magazine section & stocked quite a few obscure/hard to get Photog/art/design titles, which was nice to have in C. Ldn.

**yardbird** · 13-07-2009 15:38

Foyles have bought the old Saint Martins Deco building (which I love, 'cos I went there

) next door to them in Charing Cross Rd.
It will be the largest bookshop in the world !

**mincepie** · 13-07-2009 18:00

Shame as they had a large-ish non fiction range, great for bowsing them going to Amazon at home (!), but that aside, what other large bookstores with a good range are there in London. For non-fiction books?

**dogmatique** · 14-07-2009 10:18

I'd always found they had the poorest selection of the big bookshops in the west end. I've wasted my time on several visits looking for something that wasn't stocked in Waterstones or Foyles. They just didn't have the diversity of stock.

**GarfieldLeChat** · 14-07-2009 10:30

fuck boarders and their entirely corrupt aim of limiting publications and their starbucksian methods at trying to freeze out independants...

this is a good day though obivously if you work for them not so much but societaily it's a fucking great day...

**GarfieldLeChat** · 14-07-2009 10:31

waterstones next please...

**cybertect** · 14-07-2009 21:10

Originally Posted by perplexis

But Foyle's is still going strong, which makes me happy.

Not me. People I know who worked there in the 80s and 90s said Christina Foyle was an awful employer. Pisspoor wages, dreadful treatment of staff and scant regard for fire regs. I don't go into Foyles.

I don't know if things have changed since she died, though.

**lang rabbie** · 14-07-2009 21:34

Originally Posted by cybertect

Not me. People I know who worked there in the 80s and 90s said Christina Foyle was an awful employer. Pisspoor wages, dreadful treatment of staff and scant regard for fire regs. I don't go into Foyles.

I don't know if things have changed since she died, though.

They have Just a tad - the entire place has been given a makeover from top to bottom.

BTW Christina Foyle was convinced the staff on the shop floor were fiddling, and that is probably why she treated them like shit, but in fact it was her senior managers who had defrauded her of £10million over the years.

**cybertect** · 14-07-2009 21:50

Originally Posted by lang rabbie

BTW Christina Foyle was convinced the staff on the shop floor were fiddling, and that is probably why she treated them like shit, but in fact it was her senior managers who had defrauded her of £10million over the years.

I guess you're right, that explains a lot.

[misses Skoob on Sicilian Avenue

]

**mincepie** · 14-07-2009 22:17

Got an email saying 50% off all books....
"Borders Oxford Street - Closing down sale 50% off everything"

**Pip** · 14-07-2009 22:23

Originally Posted by mincepie

Got an email saying 50% off all books....
"Borders Oxford Street - Closing down sale 50% off everything"

Does that start tomorrow then?

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