A loved and lost bookshop chain that was a browsing paradise for customers is still missed on Merseyside.
Today, bookworms in Liverpool are spoilt for choice with a number of brilliant independent bookshops and big brands to get their fix of classics, new releases, gifts and more. But years ago, before online shopping and reading on a tablet became as big as it is today, we made our way to Borders Books.
It's been over a decade since we last step foot into our local Borders, which stocked thousands of titles and magazines, as well as cards, CDs, DVDs and more. Borders first opened in the UK in 1997 and was originally owned by the US book giant of the same name.
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But by the early noughties, the bookshop phenomena had come to Merseyside and had sites in the surrounding areas. Many will remember branches in Warrington, Ellesmere Port and more likely the massive store based at Speke Retail Park.
It's now been two decades since US group Borders opened a 15,000 sq ft outlet in Speke. At the time, the latest addition to the New Mersey Retail park opened with a day of entertainment for all the family starting with story time for children and 15% discount on books, CDs, videos and magazines.
In the noughties, Borders was a magnet for booklovers and shoppers. It had something for everybody and would welcome students, gamers, young families, older couples and more to browse the aisles full of hundreds of books, from classics and children's literature to sport, new releases and more. It was a great place to meet up and socialise, as well as to stock up on back to school gear or tick off gifts on the Christmas list.
Many of the branches, including the one in Speke, had a Starbucks coffee inside so you could sip a hot drink whilst getting comfy on one of the big chairs with a book. Boasting a fantastic selection of books, magazines, CDs, videos, foreign papers and gifts, you could also purchase stationery or a new video game via Paperchase and GAME which was inside many of the Borders stores.
Over the years, different Borders bookshops would host everything from in store acoustic performances, celebrity book signings and midnight openings for new must-have books that would see late night queues. Borders was a massive part of the book industry in the UK and unforgettable moments.
In 2003, Harry Potter mania gripped Merseyside as sales of the then new book, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, soared worldwide. At the time, Brian Leslie, manager at Borders Books in Speke, said: "Sales have exceeded expectations.
"We had about 200 people for the midnight opening and then we had queues again when we opened on Saturday at 8am." Shop staff at Borders in Speke also organised games, competitions and quizzes from 7pm that night to keep restless youngsters happy until the book was officially released at one minute past midnight.
Do you remember Borders? Let us know in the comments section below.
Over the years, we've taken a look back at the stores loved and lost on Merseyside and ECHO readers have shared their memories of the popular bookshop chain. Previously on the Liverpool ECHO Facebook page, Bernadette Irwin said: "Borders was great."
Jackie Richards commented: "I really miss Borders." Suzanne Tappenden said: "Miss borders !!!! Loved that place."
Dawn Brooke wrote: "Loved Borders and the coffee shop, the paperchase franchise..... fab days on maternity leave mooching round." Alan Jackson posted: "Miss borders used to buy all my books there and browse around."
Carol Anne Hughes commented: "Like Borders..comfy chairs a coffee and a book...bliss..." Sue Cogan commented: "Borders was my favourite shop ever."
Liam O'Brien said: "Miss Borders! Magazine aisles were (fire emoji)." Kelly Mahoney wrote: "I still miss Borders. I do hope they bring something similar back. It surprised me such a big shopping area doesn't have a decent book store."
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Rita Hughan posted: "My favourite shop loved it could spent all day in there gutted when they closed it." Jane Bateman posted: "Spent many an hour in borders and Starbucks such a shame."
June Hayward said: "Miss Borders so much. They had one in Ellesmere Port. I remember they had a jazz band one Christmas. There was always someone reading to the children." And Nicola Deegan said: "Aw I loved Borders. The smell of coffee and books- amazing."
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The latest series of Memory Lane is in major retailers including Asda, Tesco, Home Bargains and selected newsagents now. This series of the bumper picture special looks at fun in the sun - with stunning photographs and treasured memories of family holidays from years gone by. You can also buy Memory Lane online here.
It's been over ten years now since Borders went into administration and announced the closure of the store - and today it is still missed on Merseyside. In 2009, the Liverpool ECHO reported how the collapse of Borders affected 1,150 jobs across the country, with three stores at Warrington, Speke and Cheshire Oaks closing.
Shoppers will no doubt remember the closing down sales that swept Borders bookshops across the country and what it was like going there one last time, leaving with a discounted item in a borders bag. By Christmas 2009, all Borders stores had closed, although a number of the bookshops still exist abroad.
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