Borders

It’s a sad day anytime a bookstore closes. Borders was the first big player to take a chance on a dying shopping center. Borders you have left big shoes to fill and I’m not sure the shopping center is up to task. I blame that stupid Amazon… Actually I can’t be mad at Amazon, your great deals and tax-​free mechanize…

In the end, all that was left was stacks and stacks of Sarah Palin books.

I’m sad to see this place go. WAHHH
They’re currently offering 30 — 50% off books and merchandise. Came here and browsed at what was left. Upstairs is almost completely empty (because they moved some of the books downstairs) and it’s just a big mess.
I was looking through the Travel section (it was upstairs and now it’s downstairs to where the magazines used to be) and grabbed a couple of pop up maps. They’re COOL! Elaine H. had one when we were in DC and I think it may just be the best travel invention ever.
I wonder what will replace Borders now?

They’re closing :(
I liked it when it was up and running normally. It’s generally quiet so you can skim through books or mags in peace. On days where I’d be early picking up boo from work, I like to stop by and see what new books are available in my favorite genres. It was a nice way to kill time. They have a nice DVD and magazine variety too. Right now everything including fixtures and furniture are 30−50% off. Go before everything gets crazy and thrown around and whatnot. Shouldn’t be too hard to find what you’re looking for just yet.

I liked this location so I don’t have to go to the dump in Union City but sadly they are closing their doors. It’s too bad because now I have to go to Barnes and Noble’s in Emeryville if i want a decent time at a book store. Hopefully something decent will open up here and take its place. i really like the BlueRay selection that they have even though I have to scrounge around to find what I liked.
Borders, you will be missed.

Borders i can’t get exceited about. paying full price for books? not unless i really wanted one.
only thing i like about borders and this goes for barnes & nobles too,. you can sit or stand and read their books and magazines for free. you can’t do this at costco.

I love this Borders. I usually go to the one in Union City but they never have enough seating. And there’s this Nazi who won’t allow sitting in the corner of the store because its a «safety hazard».
Honestly reading my US Weekly or Star magazines while standing, leaning on a ladder isn’t the best way to enjoy trashy magazines. But this Borders is wonderful, they have comfortable chairs scattered everywhere. There are plenty of tables and seating inside and outside. Since I spend so much money on text books I refuse to pay for leisure reading books. So instead I’ll come to this Borders, catch up on my celebrity gossip, fashion and read all of the books I’ve been missing out on. Best spent four hours!
Big comfortable chairs + coffee + trash magazines, fashion magazines + books + all for free = pure happiness!

Beautiful large Border’s in a nice shopping plaza! Apparently everyone else thinks so too, because on a Sunday afternoon, seats are scarce in the café area. But it’s great place to come alone to study, or to meet up with a friend and have a chat over a beverage and/​or book of your choice.

Oh, I do like this Borders! Have been a handful of times, and on this occasion, was meeting up a friend. We both have ties to Alameda, and both have made Alameda our home for years. It was great to meet up at the upstairs café.
I arrived when they opened at 1000 and very much agreed with the sensible layout of one of the newest Borders stores in the East Bay. The different sections of the store are very cutely decorated, and coming before the pollution by man, it sure seemed soo darn clean!
SBC coffee – haven’t had in a while. actually, not since the days of Pac NW living (love the step-​down store near Pike Place, Seattle). Good, strong hot coffee for the start of the day. Such luminous light streaming through the many large windows… GREAT BALCONY for outside studying and chilltime… the café area in general is open, spacious, and even has armchairs and ottomans (something I desperately would love ECP’S B&N to copy). Simply love it all.
I’d come to this store over the B&N in E-​ville, were it not for the fact that Borders is all the way deep in Alameda, next to the lapping waves and Sushi House.
I have ambivalent feelings about this new Towne Center, what I always knew as South Shore… miss the Noah’s Bagels, the old Ross (which is to be built soon, where the former Safeway was), the old Velvet Creamery that had great burgers and shakes (lots of dates there). Shopping places that could cling to any suburban locale are nondescript, but then again, a Trader Joes was lured here, as was a 24 hr Fit-​Lite, Panera and Daphne’s, and more businesses a-​coming (Pearl’s Deluxe Burgers).

* 3.5 stars *
Borders is fine. To me it’s the generic «nice» bookstore.
I think I’m glad to have it where it is in Alameda. To be honest, if it didn’t have the coffee shop inside it would have lost half a point, and if it didn’t have the great 2ND FLOOR PATIO w/​cool view it would definitely have lost an additional half point.
Did I mention I like that outdoor hang out area a lot? :)
Yeah, Borders, you’re alright.

I’m a fan of any bookstore, from the tiny one down the street on Encinal to this big box. If you’ve read some of my other reviews you know I like to go into a store, find what I’m looking for, and get out. No searching. Except in bookstores. I like to go in, wander for hours, and come out spending way too much money.
This place is no exception. Because it’s so big, it has a ton of sections including my favorites in Biography and Psychology. The music and DVD section, though I honestly never go in there, looks like it’s clean and well organized. The children’s section (which I want to go into because it looks so cool) looks so cool. Like the kind of cool place you can go sit on pillows and read stories. Sigh. Being old sucks.
Sometimes this place is out of the simple things, but they’re pretty good about ordering and getting stuff fast.
This Borders also has a Seattle’s Best coffee place upstairs, and they make a pretty mean latte.

Being a bibliophile by nature, I was so damned excited when the Borders opened here in Alameda! Books, books, everywhere, as far as the eye can see; and I was still excited (no, THRILLED) until I finished a latte on one occasion, and decided to stop by the restroom before buying my books.
I CANNOT comprehend how a large-​chain bookstore can have such abysmal bathroom cleaning, but oh friends, I encountered one of the nastiest bathrooms I’ve ever seen! As I stood there, aghast at the state of the stalls, the total lack of handsoap in the dispenser, and the missing toilet seat covers, I couldn’t help but compare this Borders’ restrooms with the many gas station bathrooms I’ve had the misfortunate of visiting.
Hands down, bar none, someone, SOMEWHERE needs to be held accountable for the sheer nastiness of the restrooms at this Borders location (I’m disgusted that employees would even use such a restroom and then return to servicing the floor). And, men, lest you think «Oh that’s the ladies’ room, I’m safe,» hubby shared that the men’s bathroom routinely has been as disgusting as I’ve found the Borders’ ladies’ room (and not just one occasion; I write this review after nearly gagging after a visit to the Borders’ restroom just this past weekend!!)
2 stars for the books, natch; –3 for the lack of cleanliness.
Uck.

I loved my Border’s experience! The best part about it was the Seattle’s Best café upstairs that’s actually quite large and has enough outlets for multiple people on their computers to be plugged in. Also, their large windows allow a lot of sun to flood in which makes for a good reading/​studying environment. Their holiday coffees are tasty, and the staff was helpful. I was looking for a book and the sales associate was helpful, placing the book in my hand before she was done helping.
It’s huge, has a large selection of books, offers a very good study environment (I was there all day on a Saturday and it remained pretty busy the whole time) so you’ll be lucky to grab a seat!

Whoo hoo! A big bookstore in alameda! finally! Most people have already been to borders before so there’s really not much to comment on as far as the interior of this place goes. There’s a big parking lot in the town centre so parking is never really an issue. This place is also two stories, which gives it a nice downtown SF feel. The Seattles coffee here is pretty good but can be a bit noisy if you’re looking for a place to study.
I find the lack of correct signs troubling to find some books tho. On more than one occasion I’ve had to look for a book through the computer system only to be let wandering around the store looking for the correct area, only to findout that it doesn’t exist and the book is actually somewhere else (my use of run on sentences is troubling too).

Let me be the first one to say I am usually a big fan of Borders, however, this is one instance where it’s completely the opposite.
I was at this Alameda Borders prior to closing time on a Wednesday evening, and heard a Borders staff make the announcement about closing.
After she hung up the phone for the intercom, she watched me head toward the restroom and stopped me cold with:
«Ma’am, we are closing.»
I politely told her that I would still like to go to the restroom, she proceeds to look at me harshly and responded with…
«Why didn’t you go 5 minutes ago!!!»
I was completely shocked when I heard what she said that I just stared back at her.
She then followed her comment with: «Well, you better hurry it up then.»
Yikes!!! Somebody needs serious training on how to treat a customer with respect.
They just lost a valuable customer and got a ding on Unilocal

This is a great Borders… granted, most Borders are, but this one is in lovely Alameda, so that makes it extra special. Highlights are friendly knowledgeable employees, Seattle Best coffee, plenty of seats to study, and parking a few feet from the front door.
This is also the first, «Digital Center» Borders in NorCal. You can burn CDs, publish a book or make a photo album.

This is a very nice, new store as far as ‘big box” retail outlets go. No complaints, but we try to shop «local» as much as possible. Books Inc. is smaller on Park St. but manages to keep a nice selection. Still a chain, but is shopping a SMALLER chain any better? The deck off the café is very pleasant with a somewhat water-​friendly view.
Anyway, what prompted me to write is simply that their bathrooms have a built-​in stepstool under the sink for kids. It’s really industrial steel, attached to the counter and folds under.
One thing I’ve noticed being a parent is how many places do NOT have a stepstool for small children who can wash their own hands but are too small to reach. It’s gotta be a simple $ 5 or under solution from IKEA. I’m tempted to buy a dozen and just leave them in all our favorite stores and restaurants.

Now every Alamedian has a one-​stop-​shop for last minute birthday gifts… (and an escalator)
This Borders is actually awesome. You’re saying to yourself, «If you’ve been to one Borders you’ve been to them all…» right? Wrong… In Alameda, it’s hard to find a corporate chain store with great customer service. It’s usually a bunch of high school kids who hate work, but not here! Borders made sure to hire employees who would love their job and know their product…
Every time I’ve come here with a question regarding a book, the employees have been helpful. «When does this come out? Where can i locate this book?» They’ve always helped.
To boot, if you join the Borders book club you get emails almost weekly with insanely good coupons. Last week, it was 40% off ANY one item. The guy at the register was nice enough to let me and my Girlfriend use my coupon twice when we each paid for two separate purchases… and then he turned around and gift wrapped our books! With a smile! Awesome!

I live here. The Borders Café staff know me by name. Its the most wonderful study spot (until too many students find out about it), though certain days may be a little crowded. I’m here almost EVERYDAY with my MCAT books.
I love the regulars. The little girls that comes with her grandma. The usual knitting ladies. The high school kids coming for their lunch break or after school meeting. Its a great place to people watch =)
The only thing that is annoying is when fellow MCAT studiers feel like they have to give the «i hate you stare» like doing that is going to change your mind about reaching your dreams of becoming a doctor. SO ANNOYING…
Also kinda annoying is when the staff start gossiping about their personal lives too loud but hey… everyone’s human and that is why they invented earphones yes?

MUST I SAY…
it’s 2 floors this make me wet in places that i didnt know that I could develop fluid! LMAO hahaha
Well I’m OBSESSED with the DEAL Books. 2 bucks for the bartenders guide! Hell yea! Huge selection service here is friendly I don’t have one negative thing to say about this particular location