Border Books Music & Cafe

Most Borders and Barnes & Noble stores are pretty standard in terms of organization, staffing, wait time in line, info desk, etc. However, I wanted to give snaps to this Borders in particular because of a recent experience.
Looking for a specific book and unable to find it, I asked at the info desk. The guy checked his computer and told me that unfortunately they didn’t have any copies in stock. I walked away, and a few minutes later was approached by another employee (manager? not sure…) who happened to have an advanced reading copy. The book is labled, «Not for Resale,» so she said since she couldn’t sell it to me, she’d give it to me for free. Score!

So I’m looking for a magazine. Do we have it, or don’t we? Try to find help. 404, Not Found. Go to the register. Summon help.
Blonde chick with ring in tongue. She can’t find it either. Here’s where it would probably be. African-​American lady with great necklace can’t find it either. Let’s find the Nice Gay Fellow. He’s the one who does the magazines.
Nice Gay Fellow actually knows which magazine I’m talking about (it happens to be a magazine with a target audience of gay men). But the best he can tell me is «The magazines just came in, and they’re all over in the back. Come on back tomorrow.»
Next day, Nice Gay Fellow sees me and disappears. No magazine. Nobody else with a clue.
Have to pick up the wee one from preschool, and I’m late b/​c I’m standing in the Endless Line With Only One Cashier to Wait on Everyone. Boo hiss.
A half star for having a public bathroom, although I did not examine it. One half star for HAVING a book I wanted. One star for the nice lady who let me take all those lovely empty cardboard boxes that had calendars in it.

Borders is where to go for salvation. So it’s a big chain, so what? I love the barrista – beverage options, food, and furniture. The computers located around the store to search for specific books also puts Borders way ahead of Barnes & Noble in my mind, way way ahead. (As little help services/​receptionist/​human interaction as possible, thank you) That said, there’s only so much TO say about Borders. We all know how it goes. I love the art magazines.