Super Store No More

It's weird to stand in a nearly empty 25,000 square-foot store that used to be full of people shopping in a maze of stocked bookshelves. It’s weird because you get an idea of just how big 25,000 square-feet is. It’s weirder still when the employees don’t talk to you, or try not to, on their mission to empty the place out completely.

As back in February, a Borders Group press release said that the company “identified certain underperforming stores” for closure. More than 200 of them, in fact, are completing their liquidation of all fixed assets this weekend – the fixtures, bookshelves, everything.

Going into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, the company graciously said the closures were “a reflection of economic conditions, cost structures and viability, among other factors, and not on the dedication and productivity of the workforce in these stores.”

Think of it like this. That is approximately 30 employees per store who have been laid off and become officially unemployed on Monday, their “dedication and productivity” notwithstanding. The 25,000 square-foot Union City super store, which opened in late 2000, has let go 32 people.

The few employees I spoke with, while they were busy moving Borders remaining inventory, were reluctant to say much. Evidently they have been told not to comment to anyone who might be “media.” I saw no signs forbidding taking pictures inside the store, like the ones I took. However, one of the people behind the checkout counter told me, “You can’t take pictures in here.” As I said, someone must have spoken to them.

After Kmart owned and spun off Borders, the company got big and by 2003 the new company had grown to 1249 stores worldwide. In 2004, Borders offered cafés and in 2007 installed digital video monitors in select stores.  In 2009, Borders offered customers a free WiFi network. However, the company showed its last profit in 2006.

Borders listed $1.275 billion in assets and $1.293 billion in debts in its bankruptcy filing. It employed approximately 19,500 people.

This weekend, 25 Borders stores finish closing in California. Locally that number includes two in San Francisco, two in San Jose, and one each in Fremont, Pleasanton, Alameda, San Ramon, San Mateo and the one here in Union City.

I almost expected to hear the sound of my own footsteps as I left to take one more picture, outside.