Following its recent acquisition by major US group Borders, specialistbookseller Books etc has chosen Leeds as the location for its first Borderssuperstore. Contracts have been exchanged on a 3,019 sq m (32,500 sq ft) prime site at94-97 Briggate, near the new Harvey Nichols store. Borders is due to openin Leeds in Autumn 1998.
The deal initiates a substantial expansion programme throughout the UK.The Books etc name will be retained for stores up to 1,394 sq m (15,000 sq ft) inselected centres throughout the UK while large format stores in regionalcentres will trade as Borders.
The new superstore format will incorporate the sale of music CDs,videotapes, audiotapes, magazines, and a coffee shop as well as over100,000 books. Borders also plans to trade throughout the week with lateevening openings.
Books etc. currently has 22 outlets plus stores in Brighton, London, andManchester are scheduled to open in 1998. The company also runs a chain ofoutlets at airports.
Borders Group Inc is the second largest bookseller in the world, with180 superstores in the United States as well as 930 Waldenbooks bookshopsbased in shopping malls. Some 40 superstores are being opened per year inthe US. A 30,000 sq ft superstores is due to open shortly in Singapore.
Jones Lang Wootton and Reid Rose are retained property consultants forBorders/Books etc. in the UK.
EGi News 18/11/97
