West Village Borders

[evdallas]

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2003/12/15/daily4.html?jst=b_ln_hl


Borders Books to open Uptown store
Borders Books & Music said Monday it plans to open two stores in Texas, including one in Dallas, by July 2004.


The Dallas location will be built at the northeast corner of McKinney and Lemmon avenues, across the street from the West Village shopping center in the trendy Uptown district.

The 22,000-square-foot store will be Borders' 10th in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and is scheduled to open in July.

The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based retailer also plans to open a 26,000-square-foot store in Houston next June. That location, the fifth in the Houston area, will be built on the southeast corner of Lake Woodlands and Six Pines drives in The Woodlands Market Street urban development.

Borders now has 18 stores in Texas. The additions in Dallas and Houston will bring the total to 20.

"Texas has been an important market for Borders, and we know our two new stores will create an exciting destination environment for area residents," said Stu Morgan, regional director for the new locations. "The West Village in Dallas is an urban shopping and residential development that attracts people from all over the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, and The Woodlands in Houston is one of the highest-rated planned communities in the country."

Borders Group Inc. (NYSE: BGP) operates about 430 Borders Books & Music stores in the United States and 37 locations overseas. The company, with 32,000 employees, also runs 750 Waldenbooks stores.

[tamtagon]

I'm wondering if department stroes like Dillards, Foleys, and Macys will build in the West Village area, or in the West End. It seems obvious that Bloomingdales, Neimans and Nortstrom will end up near The Cresent.

With as much momentum that the West Village has right now, I think the West End will be the first destination for the next trend in urban department store developments.

[gc]

I sure hope you are correct. I'd like to see another major retailer in downtown followed by a swarm of smaller stores.

[evdallas]

I have always wondered why, with the decline of traditional malls, Dillards, Foleys etc never looked at urban projects as a way to expand.

[MustangMonkey]

Foleys has a nice DT store in San Antonio.

[bel]

There is also a downtown Foleys in Houston, but it's kinda hard to use. Hard to park, etc.
And, of course, we have Neimans.

But it sure would be nice if things were more like....say Chicago's downtown!

[John T Roberts]

It will probably be a long time before these stores open in downtown or inner city areas of Texas. Remember, Sanger-Harris in downtown was closed when the Foley's and Sanger-Harris brands were merged. Dillard's purchased Joske's (formerly Titche's) and closed the downtown Dallas store. Dillard's (they purchased Leonard's) also left the Sundance Square area in 1991, just before the development took off and the first new downtown residences opened across the street.

The actions of these retailers left downtown Dallas with just the Neiman Marcus Flagship Store. In Houston, the downtown Foley's is their original and Flagship Store. Foley's is now owned by the May Company, a large department store conglomerate.

[dallastophoenix]

perhaps the new (suburban) development off ross and central expressway will include such stores, or will spur something like a border's nearby...

[psukhu]

The problem is that from Uptown, it is very quick and simple to get to North Park.

[aceplace]

If Detroit can support a Borders bookstore in its downtown, why not Dallas?

[bloodandpopcorn]

Since it should be opening in the next few weeks, I figured I'd go ahead and start a thread on it. It's two levels, but just half of the first level, right? So will this even be the same size as more traditional Borders (i.e. Lovers Lane or Preston/Royal)? I had always hoped it would be bigger and be the definitive Borders for the Dallas area, but, it just doesn't seem that large to me.

Also, they have put up a page for it on the bordersstores.com website. No info as of yet, except for the name "Borders - Uptown" and the address. No exact opening date from what I can find. Does anyone have that?

The URL, btw, is: http://www.bordersstores.com/stores/store_pg.jsp?storeID=612

[Kelley USA]

I assume they'll have the entire 2nd level (doubt Chase has any of that). That should make it a good size- and don't forget it will also have music and a cafe...

[SpaceCityDood]

Hmm... Looks interesting. It looks similar to the one they are building in The Woodlands.

[Foucault]

According to someone who works at the Borders in Old Town, the opening date is around July 24th...

[gc]

I am excited about this store opening. I imagine it will stay pretty busy.

[bloodandpopcorn]

I'm glad it will have music (and, I assume, DVDs), but I wish it were a more "landmark" store. THE go to store for mainstream books, cds, or movies in Dallas. We're really kind of lacking right now, IMO, and it would have been great to have it in such a high-key location. It should still be great for the area, and who knows, maybe in a decade they'll add another story.

[Foucault]

That kind of store belongs on Main St.

[HarryMoto]

It looks like at least one of the Chase signs is up!

[patmns]

That kind of store belongs on Main St.


Couldn't Mckinney be considered the new "Main" Street. That is were all the action seems to be happeneing thses days.

[aceplace]

Couldn't Mckinney be considered the new "Main" Street. That is were all the action seems to be happeneing thses days.That's about right. Many seem to think the "old" Main street is still THE main street, and downtown Dallas is still Commerce, Main and Elm... but that reality is long gone.

[Lakewooder]

I'd like to see a bookstore downtown in the old main library on Commerce next to "Statler Hilton/Grand Hotel" and the new park....

[bloodandpopcorn]

So, it's not open yet, right? Maybe next week...

[psukhu]

Chase is open.

[Columbus Civil]

Any word on when the opening is?

[gc]

It should be very soon. Driving by this morning, I saw books on shelves and boxes everywhere. They have made significant progress.

[pariah]

trust me,they are moving as fast as possible, they know money is to be made, and that is a great motivating factor

[JSteffen]

They are getting the mags on the stands...... and books books books everywere.... I am so excited.... I home it will be early next week.... OR MAYBE THIS WEEKEND.. WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE

[bloodandpopcorn]

Yeah, I drove by tonight, it looks really close. Maybe open by Friday?

[Columbus Civil]

Big box retail rocks ;)

[rantanamo]

When it doesn't threaten to leave its strip mall empty every 4-5 years its not so bad.

[bloodandpopcorn]

bordersstores.com says it's open now; has anyone been?

[JSteffen]

Its not open yet... The sign says open soon.... But I would expect within the week... only a few boxes remain... LOOKS GREAT...

[Foucault]

Tuesday, I've been told...

[bloodandpopcorn]

hmm, i wonder why the site would say "open now" when it's still got three or four days to go?

Do let us know when it's open, and maybe snap a few pictures if you can (I'm stuck in North Carolina for the next two weeks).

[gc]

I bought a few things this morning...

[Mballar]

Great News GC, I'll stop by there today.

[jsoto3]

Why were they so low-key with the opening?! Were there many people GC?

[gc]

Why were they so low-key with the opening?! Were there many people GC?

Not sure about that.

There were a decent number of people browsing the store (approx. 30), considering nobody knew about the opening. I slammed on the breaks when I noticed two red signs in the window saying, "NOW OPEN"

I did not, however, get to spend too much time inside as I had to return from lunch.

[HarryMoto]

Did it seem like a generic Borders, meaning basically the same as the Lovers Lane store or did it seem bigger/better in any way?

[gc]

Did it seem like a generic Borders, meaning basically the same as the Lovers Lane store or did it seem bigger/better in any way?

That is an excellent question that I cannot answer. I have not been to Borders enough to answer that. I sure liked the place during my brief visit.

[Columbus Civil]

I went tonight and was very impressed. It's a lot nicer than the Borders on Lovers and the one on Preston and Royal. Think I saw gc there.

[JSteffen]

I have been to a few borders in my time and this one did seem a little more urban. For instance there are about 20 listening statins for cd's. THATS A TON, concidering there were only 5 rows of cds. When you go say high to my friend Scottie AKA DJ Red Eye. He got himself a day job, aside from his bustling night life.

[bloodandpopcorn]

So a couple of questions: Does this Borders carry all of a normal borders, i.e. is there a respectable collection of CDs and DVDs? Size wise, how does it compare? Capacity wise?

I can't wait to get home and check it out myself...

[jsoto3]

I went tonight as well. It is great! I don't know about stock relative to the typical Border's, but it did seem a bit low. Certainly not as good of an architecture section as I was hoping. And no architectural periodicals! Blasphemy. Anyway, the place did feel more urban(e) than any other typical large retail outlet in Dallas, except perhaps Virgin at Mockingbird Station. I had concerns about ceiling heights, but they are more than ample. And the stair is just the right scale for the store. The finishes are simple, but clean and cozy. So, in terms of atmosphere, I would say this Border's is certainly the best bookstore in Dallas, atleast by my tastes. It did not seem there was much seating though, unfortunately. None-the-less, it will definitely become a regular hangout for me, especially considering that it is on the way during my walk home from Cityplace Station.

I didn't sample the wares at the 'cafe'. Did anyone else? If so, how was it? Priced ok?

[JSteffen]

Kinda exspensive but good....

[jsoto3]

I forgot to mention that the hours are great. It's open until 11pm on weekdays and until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

[Mballar]

I went by today and was impressed. I was pleasantly surprised with the size of the store, not to mention the courtesy of the staff. I really liked the selection of music they were playing while I was there. I think it subliminally got me to sit down and read a book and then buy some. Nice atmosphere!!!

[HarryMoto]

I forgot to mention that the hours are great. It's open until 11pm on weekdays and until midnight on Friday and Saturday.

This will add to the urban feel of the area. Depending on what goes in that lot next to Chase/Borders and across the street in the old Jennavine space, it all could lead to a nexus of street activity that will finally break the boundaries of the existing West Village complex.

[rantanamo]

We need more nexi in Dallas.

[HarryMoto]

We need more nexi in Dallas.

True dat. Though I'll just settle for one. :)