Customers Offer Ideas to Fill Space When Borders Closes

When Borders Books and Music closes its store at 1 N. LaGrange Rd. in La Grange, some of its customers think the two-story space should be filled with a restaurant, clothing store or even another bookstore, if possible.

Customers interviewed outside the store at about noon Monday said they will go to the library, use Kindle books, or shop at Amazon.com or other bookstore chains for their book and audio needs.

The checkout line was short and shelves were starting to empty in some departments. Many books and all magazines were being sold for a 40-percent discount and some single-disc audio compact discs and DVDs for 20 percent off.

Diana Sunyog of La Grange Park said she plans to shop at the Half Price store in Countryside, but, “they don’t have the selection (that Borders does).”

About a replacement, she said, “It’s a big store. I’d like a clothing store.”

She bought two gift items for her family that day at Borders.

Elise Gordon of Western Springs would like to see a restaurant. “They have a lot of great restaurants,” she said about La Grange, “Adding another good one would be a nice addition.”

She was buying a couple cookbooks and a Harry Potter book.    

Janet Waring of Burr Ridge said, “I’d love to see Barnes & Noble come.”

She and her daughter were buying schoolbooks and books for leisure.

Sally O’Neill of Darien, shopping with daughter, Elizabeth, said she really does not know what she would like to see in the store. To fill their own vacancy for books, they will go to the library and Barnes & Noble; and her daughter has a Kindle. They were buying books for the family for an upcoming vacation.

Rob Sloyan of Downers Grove also said he “uses the library a lot.” He will go to the library and buy books off Amazon.com. He bought one book that day.

“I’d like to see a bookstore,” he said about the soon-to-be empty space.