Borders Books & Music at Brookwood Place in south Buckhead will soon close for good. One of the original tenants signed to the Selig Enterprises project in 2003, the store was one of the prized signings for the development. Brookwood Place is also home to a bi-level Kroger grocery store, Spa Sydell and Atlanta's only Viking cooking school and store. Wolfgang Puck Express, Taurus restaurant, Swoozie's and The Art Store also opened in the project but have all since closed.Baroni, an Italian restaurant, replaced Wolfgang Puck last year, and Tuk Tuk Thai Food Loft replaced Taurus in 2009. Baroni has done fair but Tuk Tuk has been a bust and may soon close.
Back to Borders: a few miles up the road, there is a longtime Barnes & Noble at the Peach shopping center, and near Phipps Plaza, another Borders at Buckhead Triangle (another Selig property.) Perhaps people are just getting their book fix via new devices like Amazon's Kindle or Barnes & Noble's Nook. Just last December, there was talk that Borders may attempt to merge with Barnes & Noble, hoping to join with its closest rival to better compete in the changing retail landscape. An additional Borders is closing on Ashford-Dunwoody in Dunwoody but is said to be closing because of increasing rent rather than decreasing sales.
16 comments:
Sad to see it go, there's not too many bookstores left in midtown other than Barnes&Noble at Tech Square. That's a prime space, shouldn't be empty too long. Maybe a furniture store coming soon?
Sad to say it but book stores will probably go the way of music stores. The few times I have been in a book store lately they have been more of a social gathering than a retail outlet. The funny thing is that the smaller, independent bookstores will probably remain while the big chains that have to answer to shareholders will slowly fade into obscurity.
It wasn't a good store. Borders near Phipps has a great selection.
It's hard to justify buying books at Borders &/or B&N if I can buy it at Amazon for cheaper!
I've been puzzled why this had taken so long to close, as they told employees it would be going nearly a year ago. I'll miss it, but I am more likely to visit other locations. Also, this was originally slated to be a B&N, and Borders took over the lease when B&N bailed. The same is true of the Kroger, which was built for Harris Teeter but never opened as such (much like Whole Foods Ponce).
@Anon totally with ya on the thinking that buying books at large corporate stores like Borders and Barnes & Noble is a fleeting concept. Why pay retail when you can get the same item at a significant savings online?
@Carl I did not remember B&N or Harris being the original two for Brookwood. Interesting though, I do kinda miss Harris Teeter. I do recall them being on board for the Sembler project on Ponce. If memory serves, they even had some signage up and a lot of interior work when the decided to leave the market. Whole Foods scored a great space and sadly in doing so, put Market One out of business.
With talk that the Borders will close February 11th, any guesses for what may take that space?
The Whole Foods on Ponce, the Kroger at Sage Hill and the Kroger at Brookwood were all either operating Harris Teeter stores or were in the process of becoming Harris Teeter stores when the company pulled out of Atlanta (there was another one in Buckhead as well). Such a shame because it really made Publix and especially Kroger be much more competitive and expand their offerings.
Hey Anon,
I recall the Ponce being in progress and the location at Sage Hill being a Winn-Dixie prior to Harris, but the Brookwood I did not remember. Wonder what will finally be made of the old Harris in Brookhaven, that antique joint was a joke!
I live near Toco so the A&P conversion to the Harris was nice and we had Publix and Kroger across the street and Whole Foods down the road. Great variety.
That would be a perfect spot for The Beer Mug. Just saying. Put the music stage upstairs
Have you heard any rumor about that Kroger closing?
Hey Anon,
I had not. Where did you hear this?
Borders closed for one main reason, just like all the other businesses that have left..rent. They all signed leases back when economy was booming. Things slowed, and Selig refused to negotiate new terms, so they left.
You might as well update it now that we know it's going to be the aveda school of Atlanta relocating from piedmont next to chipotle.
it looks like the ponce borders may be closing too. the overstock storage bins (over the shelves) are all empty, which is not normal. I hate losing local borders. Yes I can get access to these books online but browsing and perusing is not the same.
Hey Graham,
While you are probably aware it was recently announced that the Borders in Buckhead would be closing, I'm told that the Ponce location will be one of few locally to remain open.
Thanks for reading and for the comment!
Post a Comment