Borders says they are no longer for sale....

We are of two minds about this, first, great news. It mean Ann Arbor's independent bookstore is gonna make a go of today's ailing economy AS an independent, no doubt many employees are thrilled today. The other mind is that quite simply nobody would buy them when they were listing themselves for sale every week for the last few months. If they simply don't have the equity or products in warehouse and in store somebody would want to buy, how good of a go are they gonna make?. There is, of course the underlying problem that George Jones still runs the show and Mr. Jones hasn't exactly lit the fire under Borders to propel them to success or cut a viable deal.

We hope everyone there keeps their jobs and rides this out. Johnny has a lot of good friends at 100 Phoenix. I know there are some bright book business minds in there who truly love the field they are in. Trouble is they keep getting thwarted by the George Jones' in the company. Borders stock was trading under a dollar earlier this week for a short while, it wasn't the merch group or the buyers who did that, it was the higher ups.

Time for a change at the top at Borders we think...

James Taylor will appear at Borders on October 2, 7pm

James Taylor will be bringing his heavy metal head thrashing sound to the downtown Borders on October 2. He'll be there at 7pm and no entry info has yet been announced.

Taylor is expected to perform songs from his recent 'Covers' CD.

Another big time star to perform FREE at Borders, this time it's Jewel!

That's right, you needn't be from Alaska or have the abilty to yodel to enjoy the song stylings of Jewel, you can head over to Borders, THIS THURSDAY, at 4 pm at Borders downtown store, 612 E. Liberty. It's totally FREE but the good folks at Borders say get there early as space to see Jewel will fill up fast.

Jewel will be performing songs from her new country music CD entitled 'Perfectly Clear'.

According to Borders that new concept store is going great guns

It's SO NICE to have a good economic story to run with especially about a local company. "It's running substantially ahead of our plans,'' George Jones, Borders CEO. The new concept store in the Waters Place on Lohr Rd. (Think Best Buy, and Joe's Crab Shack) opened on February 14th.

"We are absolutely thrilled with the reaction we're getting from customers, and that's what it's all about".

This now qualifies as the Business Section of your Sunday Paper.

Borders gets ready to bring you the store of the future---TOMORROW

That's right fans of books, a closely guarded secret, the Borders Concept store opens tomorrow for all your futuristic shopping needs. The NEW Borders (Ann Arbor's preeminent bookstore) Concept store opens at 9am and is located off of Lohr Rd alongside Kohl's, Best Buy and Linens-N-Things in the Waters Place Shopping Plaza.

The festivities will begin with a ribbon cutting ceremony and then book and video and music fans, get ready to be blown away. Johnny has a mole he's been talking to and this place will be all that and a bag of chips.

The store will have a digital center where people can make custom CDs with the help of Borders staff or all on their own. They can also buy a digital camera there, learn how to turn their digital pics into books or publish their own book. Maybe taking those pictures and researching your family tree suit you, Borders has partnered with Ancestor.com and Shutterfly to help you do just that. All this and much much more.

Borders CEO George Jones has said another dozen or so concept stores will open around America in 2008.

Are ya ready? Can ya stand it?

Borders to launch in store TeeVee

Ann Arbor and Ypsi's preeminent bookstore, Borders is about to team up with Ripple, no not the cheap alcohol from the 70's, but Ripple in store TeeVee.

Borders TV (I want my Borders TV) will debut in 60 stores soon and it will be up and running in 250 stores by February. The network will feature news and entertainment from local markets as well as "Borders Live at 01" and "Borders Presents."