Mt. Kisco Borders Begins Liquidation

With the first day of Borders’ liquidation sale, people came in large numbers to Mount Kisco, getting some of their final glimpses at what has long been a destination.

Long lines formed around the registers, and some shelves were thinning out of inventory by early evening. A series of large signs noting the sales were hanging from the ceiling of the upper floor.

Not only is the merchandise being sold, but even furniture and fixtures, which was noted prominently in signs posted at the now-defunct café on the first floor.

The loss of Borders not only deprives people of a place to buy books, but of an economic force and gathering place in Mount Kisco.

“It’s going to affect every other business in the community,” said Bellizzi owner Isi Albanese. He noted that often, people would make going to his place and Borders part of one trip.

“I think it’s sad,” said Jude Tidmus, a Mount Kisco resident. Her husband, Mark Tidmus, noted that their kids would come to the place to do homework.

“I’ll have to drive longer to find a suitable book store,” said Croton-on-Hudson resident Onix Garcia.

No exact closure date for the Mount Kisco location has been given, although it is expected to be by late September at most.

The Mount Kisco location was one of 399 set for liquidation and approved Thursday by a federal bankruptcy judge, media outlets reported, leading to a group of liquidation companies taking over. While fellow bookstore chain Books-A-Million expressed interested in taking over 30-35 stores, Mount Kisco is not among, according to media reports of the list. Forty-five employees in Mount Kisco will lose their jobs, with, according to the company’s announcement, nearly 11,000 altogether.