Bye bye Borders?
Borders Groups Inc. - the country's second largest bookstore chain - is exploring the possibility of closing half of its eight Chicago stores in an effort to soften the blow from a decline in profits after a slow holiday season.
While the Beverly store isn't one of the four on the list, its future could be cloudy if the Ann Arbor, Mich.-based company closes the others.
What do you think: How valuable is the store - and the property it sits on - to the 95th Street commercial strip east of Western?
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Historically, Borders does...
Back to page topHistorically, Borders does not seem to have any major significance to the area on 95th Street. But I definitly believe that it should stay in business. In my mind, it is by far the best book store chain there is in this country. The store on 95th has helped out the area and brought people from the southwest suburbs.
It does not seem to fit in with the other small businesses, but I don't think anyone in the area is against it. It is a good place to go for reference when you have a lot of time. I could, and have several times spent all day in that store.
Hey Folks - Hold on ... I'll...
Back to page topHey Folks - Hold on ... I'll see you all there soon and we can discuss it then. Meantime ... Keep Smilin' Curt
"Southside Kid" The Chicago Book by L. Curt Erler
"Southside Kid" by L. Curt Erler
1942 ~ Chicago ~ 1960
Author; L. Curt Erler will be visiting the Chicago area
September 26th - 30th - Venues below;
Wednesday 9/26 - Tinley Park Library - Discussion & Signing - 7pm to 9pm
Thursday 9/27 - Borders - Beverly / Evergreen Park - Discussion & Signing - 7pm to 9pm
Friday 9/28 - Barbara's Bookstore - U. of I. Chicago Campus 12th & Halsted - Discussion & Signing 7pm to 9pm and again on Saturday 9/30 - 3pm to 5pm
** AUTHOR: Curt 'may' be stopping by the Aquinas Reunion @ the 'Big John' Bldg. sometime on Saturday ... 'Maybe'!
Sunday 9/30 - Palos Heights Library -Discussion & Signing - 2pm to 5pm
L. Curt Erler comes from a large, hardworking family and in his autobiography, Southside Kid; he pays homage to strong family values, to a simpler time at the tail end of WWII. The author recalls his childhood growing up on Chicago’s Southside during the 1950s with plenty of baseball, matinees at the Avalon Theater, young love and Friday night dances with the St. Felicitas kids.
“Southside Kid’s” narrator is the only non-Catholic attending a Catholic school. Young Curt was fortunate and clever enough to make the best of this rather trying circumstance. He tells of his Yankee adventures in the South and a few altercations on Chicago’s Southside streets. This book is a wonderful and wildly fun journey down a memory lane filled with laughter and high jinks that leaves its reader with a sense of longing.
Welcome to Chicago’s Southside.
In Southside Kid, L. Curt Erler recalls a time when missing children found sleeping in laundry baskets made headlines. From weekly air raid sirens and gathering around Mom’s Philco radio listening to Glenn Miller and Frankie Laine to dancing and drag racing on the Eastside, this Southside kid reminds us that where we come from is the greatest place in the world.
A place where sewer covers become first, third and home plate and second base is someone’s cap. When you aren’t playing baseball your afternoon might include a matinee at the Avalon Theater or riding your bike for some penny candy at Julie’s Candy Store and there are always the Friday night dances with the St. Felicitas gang. Moving into the mid-50’s you find yourself surrounded by Rock and Roll and the sounds of Chicago’s jazz joints.
Everyone should have a childhood that is this much fun and a life that is this rich. In fact, for L. Curt Erler it isn’t a life, it is a celebration and it is what makes this memoir alternately so touching and so hilarious.
Author Biography
L. Curt Erler was born and raised in Chicago, Illinois. As an adventurer and business executive, he has traveled extensively. He is the proud father of three grown daughters and resides with his wife of 46 years in San Diego County, California...
Contact - Email - southsidecurt@cox.net
Web-Site - www.southside-kid.com
Borders adds a lot to that...
Back to page topBorders adds a lot to that section of 95th. I really appreciate having a good book store in the neighborhood. I often see folks patronizing other nearby businesses before or after their trip to Borders. If they close, it would be a big loss.
I'd say something would...
Back to page topI'd say something would definitely move into the space, if it were to close. (w/a little bit of a wait for a new tenant, b/c of the economy) However, I'd be very surprised if Borders chose to close there, considering it's busier than a decent number of their city and suburban stores. Also, it didn't go through a brief controversy that one of their stores on the north side(Uptown) did with unnecessary early store closing hours, then was later restored to more reasonable hours. I still sense it hurt the patronage of that location, versus their other stores on the north side.
You can definitely bet on Michigan Ave. being one of their locations to soon close, though. I happened to be lucky and caught a story written in the DePaul student newspaper, and a Borders company representative interviewed in that article confirmed its closure in late 2010. BTW my relation to Borders is ZILCH, I'm just someone who visits the neighborhood from time to time, and sense the major loss Beverly would feel if Borders does close this store.
I admire your efforts and...
Back to page topI admire your efforts and your idea that you put into this blog. Thanks for the information. Really lovely and useful for me and will refer my friends to this blog.
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