Waldenbooks In Wakefield Mall To Shut Down

Just as Wakefield Mall gained two new national chain tenants comes word that the Waldenbooks store will close on Jan. 31, 2011. However, mall officials have updated Patch with a short statement saying The Wakefield Mall will be welcoming Wakefield Books to replace Waldenbooks. Wakefield Books will be opening during the first week of February 2011.

Most items at WaldenBooks are marked down 20 percent now and bargain books are 30 percent off. Any gift cards purchased can be used online at Borders.com or at the two remaining Borders stores in RI in Cranston and Providence.

Mary Davis, Borders Group Public Relations Manager, declined to comment on whether the company is buying out the lease at Wakefield Mall or letting it expire.

"The company does not comment on our building lease agreements," she said. Asked if the decision was based on the store's sales figures or its size she would not go into specifics. "We are always evaluating our store portfolios and making decisions about ones that aren't meeting our business objectives."

Davis said there would not be a press release about a singular store closing and no more information would be made available. No other stores in Rhode Island are affected at this time.

Despite the yellow and black signs reading "Store Closing" and "Everything Must Go," customers browsing in the store on Monday were shocked to hear about the closing. Many were expressing condolences to the employees and telling them how helpful and pleasant they had been and how much they will be missed.

Several were lamenting the fact that this leaves the area without a full service book store, ironic in a college town. The Kingston Hill Store specializes in rare and old books, maps and antique paper but does not stock a full range of current titles. A limited amount of books are available at Walmart in North Kingstown and Westerly but the next closest store is the independent Other Tiger Bookstore, 90 High St. Westerly.

A visibly shaken Assistant Manager, who did not want to be identified, said that ten employees would be out of work once the store closes at the end of January. The staff was going about their work, fighting through their own emotions and stress. They had to give the news to each customer that returns would only be for store or online credit and that gift cards would be honored online or at different locations.

A call to Irving Levy of Wakefield Mall Associates, LP, owners of the Wakefield Mall, for comment was not returned by press time.