Borders will close its Gainesville store because the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization Wednesday.
Twenty-six employees, many who are part-time, work at the Gainesville store at 6837 Newberry Road. They heard the bad news the same day the business announced its decision to close.
Mary Davis, the company’s spokeswoman, said it will close before May 1.
Nicole Vassallo, a 20-year-old UF sophomore, said she is disappointed the store is closing because she studied there every week.
“I’m sorry to see the store go,” she said.
The store opened in November 1999 but was placed on Borders’ list of “underperforming stores” that must close to make the company profitable.
Of the company’s 642 stores nationwide, 200 are closing due to lack of sales, Davis said.
The Gainesville store is currently selling books 20 to 40 percent off.
Davis said the company expects the discounts to increase throughout the month until the store is closed. All sales will be final.
David Denslow, an economics professor at UF, said the increase of sales in electronic books on iPads and Nooks caused the store’s downfall.
He said people use the Internet to find information about books, and now there is no need for in-store clerks.
Davis said the organization is currently looking for options for the employees who are losing their jobs.
