Borders Closing Draws Readers to Pleasantville

When Borders announced last month it would be hundreds of its retail stores, including the outlet in Mount Kisco, many thought it was yet another nail in the coffin for the printed book.

Well, not quite.

This weekend’s brisk business in Pleasantville’s , suggests otherwise.

Roy Solomon, one of the shop’s owners, commented, “The ABA [American Booksellers Association] has suggested that the pendulum has been swinging back to smaller independent stores, away from the Wal-Mart, large box store model.”

While the pendulum might be swinging back, many bookstore owners share similar problems.

“Borders has the same problem we have: competition with other brick and mortars stores, as well as box stores which cater to selling bestsellers at huge discounts,” Solomon said.

Volumes of internet sales haven’t helped either.

“With the growing use of internet purchases and Amazon selling books at almost no profit, it imposes on the market what books should cost,” Solomon explained.

"Kindle e-books were selling for below cost...and selling below cost to increase market share is against the law,” Solomon continued.

A struggle between Amazon and the publishers ensued, suggested Solomon, but Amazon “was not able to corner the market, especially with the introduction of the iPad, Nook etc.,” he added.

Despite the ongoing warfare for book sales, the Village Bookstore remains successful.

“We’re lucky to be in an area where people are conscience that their local community looks like where they shop, Solomon said, expanding, "If they only shop at Home Depot, there will be no hardware store; if they only shop at Amazon there will be no local bookstore. That is an awareness people in our area have.”

And customers agree.

Elizabeth Guffey, an art history professor at SUNY Purchase, is a local book store supporter.

“I’m sorry to see [Borders] go, but I tend not to go to Borders very much. I use it as a place to walk through,” she said. “I shop here to support the local community since it’s a local business."

Guffey is not the only one who appreciates physical books…and a local bookstore.

Carolyn Longo is a Pleasantville resident and regular patron of the bookstore.

“I’ll probably shop here more, I like books…the Kindle is a nice idea, but my entire family prefers books. No one in my family has been asking for a reader,” she said.

“To buy a couple of books, it’s convenient to shop locally…and even if you have a reader, I still like to buy a book as a gift,” added Longo.

The impact of the anticipated Borders’ closings has already been felt by the Village Bookstore.

“As soon as they did announce the closing, I did get calls for special orders. The customers expected Borders to be closed prior to the availability of the book,” said Solomon. “We will definitely gain business with the closing."

As far as the specifics on the Borders closing timeline?

Mary Davis, a corporate spokesperson for the retail giant said, “All stores are expected to be wound down by September…they should be closed no later than the end of September.”

While Davis said the stores may be shuttered, Borders continued internet presence "will be open for a little longer.”