« Mall of Georgia Borders to close »

As part of its bankruptcy filing this morning, Borders Group, Inc. will close its Mall of Georgia Borders Book location.  In addition, its location in Johns Creek just north of Gwinnett will also close.  These stores are among five in metro Atlanta slated for closure.  The company cited "lost market share against online competitors" as the reason for the bankruptcy and chose the stores to be closed based on "economic conditions, cost structures, and their viability."

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The bankruptcy of a major book retailer is hardly surprising given the increasing competition from online resellers such as Amazon.com.  However, you cannot help but wonder what the impact of e-books have been on Borders and Barnes & Noble.  Will the time come that bookstores will go the way of the standalone music stores?