Borders(R) Celebrates the Grand Opening of Its New Concept Store in Allen, Texas Aug. 15 – 17

    DALLAS, Aug. 15 /EMWNews/ -- Borders will celebrate the grand

opening of its new concept store in Allen, Texas beginning today through

Sunday, Aug. 17th. The 24,000-square-foot store, located at the

intersection of West Bethany Drive and U.S. Highway 75 in the Watters Creek

Shopping Center, blends digital and Internet options with a fresh new look,

enriching in-store services, and a number of exciting features to create a

uniquely satisfying customer shopping experience. One of 14 concept stores

Borders will open this year, the Allen store represents a significant

enhancement over existing Borders stores inside and out and fulfills the

company's mission to be a headquarters for knowledge and entertainment.



    



    While enjoying a host of family-focused activities during the grand

opening celebration, customers can also peruse the Cooking, Travel,

Wellness, Graphic Novels and Children's destinations within the store.

Borders has given these special sections a "shop within a shop" look and

feel and provided customers who shop these areas with a vast selection of

titles and related products, as well as digital and Internet options via

interactive computer kiosks. In the Travel destination, for example,

customers can use the kiosk to research, plan and even book a trip online

right there in the store; and in the Cooking and Wellness destinations,

they can use the kiosks to learn about recommended titles and receive

advice from Borders' expert buyers. In addition, in select destinations,

there are large in-section LCD screens broadcasting a depth of content

featuring some highly recognizable names in these subject areas.



    Customers will also want to visit the Digital Center within the store

to discover additional enriching digital and Internet-based features and

services. Marked by a tall, three-dimensional fixture with multiple

computer kiosks and stations dedicated to digital services, the Digital

Center provides customers with the opportunity to do everything from

download music using Mix and Burn(TM) and create personalized photo books

with Shutterfly.com, to publishing their own books using "Borders Personal

Publishing Powered by Lulu.com(R)."



    Throughout the Digital Center, there are seats at the various computer

stations where customers are encouraged to sit and take their time working

on their projects. Importantly, Borders knows that not all customers are

technologically savvy, so the company is staffing the Digital Center with

trained, dedicated experts ready to guide customers of any technical level

through the process to achieve their project goals.



    All weekend customers can enter to win such prizes as one of five

Borders' Digital Services Certificates, one of two $250 Borders gift cards,

a collection of hot new cookbooks and a copy of Frank Miller's "Absolute

Dark Knight." In addition, Borders will also be giving away a collection of

current wellness books and a $200 Paperchase gift bag filled with

stationery, cards and gifts from the new store.






    Grand opening events at Borders in Allen include the following:



    All weekend:  All prizes will be given away on Sunday at approximately

                  7:00 p.m. with the exception of the Nickelodeon(R) prizes,

                  which will be awarded Sunday morning.



                  -- Enter to win a "Go Digital!" gift package - includes

                     select Borders digital services certificates for five

                     lucky winners;



                  -- Enter to win one of two $250 Borders gift cards;



                  -- Enter to win a Paperchase $200 gift bag filled with

                     stationery, cards and gifts;



                  -- Enter to win a Seattle's Best Coffee(R) $200 gift basket;



                  -- Enter to win a $300 collection of current cookbooks;



                  -- Enter to win a $230 collection of current wellness books;



                  -- Enter to win a copy of "Absolute Dark Knight" by Frank

                     Miller and illustrated by Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley;



                  -- Sunday morning, six lucky children will win

                     Nickelodeon(R) Dora and Diego Cuddle Pillows.





    Friday, Aug. 15th:



                  -- 1 p.m. - Representatives from The Dallas Morning News

                     will discuss and answer questions about their new

                     Exclusives Program and provide giveaway prizes for the

                     whole family;



                  -- 1:30 p.m. - Colorful face painting for kids by Tami

                     Rachael;



                  -- 2 p.m. - Children will enjoy watching David Briggs as he

                     creates intricate and inventive balloon art;



                  -- 2 p.m. - Live radio remote with 106.1 KISS FM;



                  -- 3 p.m. - Meet Strawberry Shortcake for storytime;



                  -- 5 p.m. - Live performance and CD signing from

                     "Beatlegras";



                  -- 5:30 p.m. - Satisfy your sweet tooth with free chocolate

                     and confection samples;



                  -- 6 p.m. - Local favorite Doug Burr performs songs from his

                     latest CD "On Promenade";



                  -- 7 p.m. - Local folk/rock artist Creede Williams performs

                     live;



                  -- 8 p.m. - Patrick Ryan Clark performs songs from his

                     latest CD "Translation";



                  -- 9 p.m. - Texas favorite Cary Pierce performs live and

                     signs his latest CD "You are Here."





    Saturday, Aug. 16th:



                  -- 9:30 a.m. - Stilt walker David Briggs will provide

                     excitement for the kids;



                  -- 10 a.m. - Meet Winnie the Pooh for Honey Brunch and

                     storytime;



                  -- 10:30 a.m. - Magician Hal Hudgins will amaze and delight

                     the whole family;



                  -- 11 a.m. - Customers will have the opportunity to view the

                     Allen Fire Department's engine display;



                  -- 11 a.m. - Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Texas'

                     discussion and Q&A about the organization and the Borders

                     August Book Drive;



                  -- 11:30 a.m. - Texas favorites the Texas Gypsies perform

                     songs from their latest CD "Cafe Du Swing";



                  -- Noon - Scott Kurtz, creator of the popular Webcomic

                     Player vs. Player, will discuss and sign "How to Make Web

                     Comics";



                  -- 1 p.m. - Satisfy your sweet tooth with free chocolate and

                     confection samples;



                  -- 1 p.m. - Alternative country artists Lost Immigrants

                     perform live;



                  -- 2 p.m. - TikiTrips.com will provide an information

                     session on honeymoon and destination weddings;



                  -- 2 p.m. - Local Dallas author Harry Hunsicker will discuss

                     and sign his latest book "Crosshairs";



                  -- 3 p.m. - Local artist Abi Tapia will perform live;



                  -- 4 p.m. - Best selling author James Donovan will discuss

                     and sign his book "A Terrible Glory";



                  -- 5 p.m. - Local artist Glen Farris will perform live;



                  -- 6 p.m. - Jim Dent will discuss and sign his book "Twelve

                     Mighty Orphans";



                  -- 8 p.m. - Local indie/folk artist Sarah Jaffe will perform

                     live.



    Sunday, Aug. 17th:



                  -- 11 a.m. - Colorful face painting for kids by Tami

                     Rachael;



                  -- 12:30 p.m. - Meet Nickelodeon's Dora for storytime and

                     coloring;



                  -- 1 p.m. - City of Allen Water Conservation Group will

                     discuss and answer questions about how to live "Green";



                  -- 1 p.m.  - Local artist Collin Herring will perform live;



                  -- 2 p.m. - Author Stephanie Elizondo Griest will discuss

                     and sign her latest book "Mexican Enough";



                  -- 3 p.m. - Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson will discuss and

                     sign her book "Leading Ladies";



                  -- 3 p.m. - Local artist Iris Leu will perform songs from

                     her CD "Permanent Transient";



                  -- 4 p.m. - Jim Wells and the Night Owls will perform their

                     unique style of Blues live;



                  -- 4 p.m. - Author and radio host Andrea Ridout will discuss

                     and sign her latest book "If I Had a Hammer";



                  -- 5:30 p.m. - Local artist Taylor Davis will perform songs

                     from his CD "Taylor Davis is Magical";



    Throughout the grand opening weekend and all year long, the new Borders

concept store will offer customers in Allen and the rest of the Dallas-Ft.

Worth metro area community benefit days, educational discounts, diverse

events, great selection, special features and a wonderful place to simply

explore. Borders is dedicated to enhancing the lives of customers through

knowledge and entertainment.

    About Borders Group, Inc.



    Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE: BGP), is

a leading retailer of books, music and movies with more than 28,000

employees. Through its subsidiaries, the company operates more than 1,100

stores primarily under the Borders(R) and Waldenbooks(R) brand names and

recently launched Borders.com for online shopping. For more information,

visit http://www.borders.com/aboutus .