Borders (retailer)

Borders is an international book and stationery retailer. Borders was founded in the United States in 1971 by brothers Tom and Louis Borders, the first bookshop opened in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

In October 1992, it was purchased by Kmart, and was then spun-off in 1995 as Borders Group, Inc. remaining headquartered in Ann Arbor, with Waldenbooks as its subsidiary. In 1997, Borders expanded into Singapore, and later Australia and New Zealand. In 1998, Borders expanded into the United Kingdom, and then later Ireland. In 2005, it opened in Malaysia, and in 2006, with Al Maya Group, it opened a location in the United Arab Emirates, and then further expanded across the Middle East.

In September 2007, Risk Capital Partners purchased the Borders stores in the United Kingdom and Ireland, alongside a license to use the Borders name. In June 2008, REDgroup Retail purchased the Borders stores in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand with a licence to the Borders name.

In November 2009, Borders in the United Kingdom and Ireland collapsed into administration, with all stores closed by year end, resulting in around 1,150 job losses. In June 2011, Borders closed in Singapore, Australia and New Zealand after its franchisor went into administration. In July 2011, Borders in the United States was liquidated after failing to find a buyer. It employed about 19,500 people throughout America, including Waldenbooks stores. Its final U.S. stores closed in September 2011.

In September 2011, its rival Barnes & Noble acquired the Borders trademark and other intellectual property. The Malaysian and Middle East Borders operations continued to trade under renewed franchise deals with Barnes & Noble. A 2013 attempt to re-establish the brand in Singapore failed. In 2015, Al Maya Group purchased the regional Borders trademark rights outright from Barnes & Noble, and diversified it into a merchandise mix of books, toys and stationery. The Malaysian Borders franchises closed in August 2023.

The original Borders bookstore was established in 1971 at 209 South State Street, Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States; founded by brothers Tom and Louis Borders during their study at the University of Michigan.

In 1975, they bought out the stock of Wahr's, an 80-year-old bookstore that was ending business at 316 South State Street, hiring Michael Hildebrand and Harvey James Robin to manage and stock it with rare books. Hildebrand had managed Gibson's used and rare book department in East Lansing and Harvey Robin had restored rare books and moved his bindery upstairs. Wahr's was previously a textbook and school supplies vendor, but the brothers did not deal in textbooks. They moved the retail bookshop to larger quarters down the street at 303 South State, in the former Wagner and Son men's clothing store. The old shop was renamed Charing Cross Bookshop and Tom Frick was sent from the new bookshop to help.

In 1985, the company opened its second location, in Beverly Hills, Michigan.