Independent Booksellers Stand Strong as Industry Changes

Borders and Joseph-Beth Books left the market, e-books dominate and bookstores adjust.

Independent booksellers like Suzanne DeGaetano didn’t exactly do a jig when larger competitors left the market twice in the past year and a half. DeGaetano’s Cleveland Heights-based Mac’s Backs gained customers following the closures of Joseph-Beth Booksellers in Lyndhurst and Borders in Solon and Beachwood, but the avid reader and business supporter in her couldn’t allow the co-owner to rejoice. “It’s really kind of a tragedy when a big room of books is no longer there,” she said. “We know people in the publishing industry, and it’s bad for them because a lot of people got their jobs cut. A lot of books aren’t being sold now.” Borders, once the country’s second-largest bookseller, closed last summer. It employed about 10,700 people. At …

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Daily Photo: Riders On The Storm

Construction workers on the roof of the old Borders in Uptown Solon as a thunder storm moved in on Thursday morning. The Borders store is being converted into an Ulta.

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PHOTO: Get Ready For New Ulta In Solon

Work has begun to renovate the old Borders location at Uptown Solon and turn it into the cosmetic store Ulta

The big retail space in Uptown Solon has been vacant since Borders closed in 2011. It won't be empty for much longer. DDR Corp., a Beachwood-based company that owns the plaza, announced last October that the space would be filled by cosmetic store Ulta. Now, as this photo shows, there's work being done to get the store ready for Ulta. A coming soon sign also hangs on the front of the building. Still, there's no firm date yet for a grand opening. Solon Patch will let you know as soon as we find out.

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Support Local Businesses, Solon Schools At Sale

Local business in Solon and Glenwillow will host a holiday sale Thursday through Sunday at the vacant Borders store at Uptown Solon.

Local business in Solon and Glenwillow will host a holiday sale at the vacant Borders store at Uptown Solon. The sale, which begins 5 p.m. Thursday and runs through 5 p.m. Sunday, will feature steep discounts from a number of local businesses. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to parent organizations that help the Solon City Schools: The Solon Council of PTAs, Solon Athletic Booster, Solon Music Parents and Solon Academic Boosters. DJs from 96.5 KISS FM will be on hand Saturday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with raffles and prize giveaways. For more information, check out the PDF attached to this article.

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Cosmetic Store Ulta Will Fill Former Borders Location in Solon

The cosmetic store Ulta will move into the space formerly occupied by Borders in Solon

The big, empty retail space at the end of the Uptown Solon shopping plaza won't be empty for long. DDR Corp., a shopping center company that owns the location, said that Ulta, the cosmetic store, will be moving into the space in Solon, according to the Plain Dealer. There's no details on when Ulta will open in Solon. That space at the end of the plaza was once home to Borders, which shuttered all of its stores earlier this year.

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Man Flips Out in Borders Because They Won't Accept His Return

The information in this report is from the Solon Police Department

The soon-to-be-closed Borders store in Solon clearly states that returns are no longer accepted. That wasn't enough for a Mayfield Heights man who was cited for disorderly conduct after he was told he couldn't return an item. On Sept. 8, Borders employees called police after they told a 47-year-old man he couldn't return an item. The man began to scream at the employees, went behind the sales counter and refused to leave, according to the police report. The workers feared that the man would attack them, so they called the police. Disorderly conduct is a fourth-degree misdemeanor.

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Frugal Family: Local Back-to-School Deals

When the calendar strikes August, we know the summer is waning and school will be starting soon. Area merchants know it too, and are stocking up on supplies and fall merchandise

When the calendar strikes August, we know the summer is waning and school will be starting soon.  Area merchants know it too, and are stocking up on supplies and fall merchandise.  Hard to believe, but it’s true; check out these deals in your neighborhood.  Also, please check with merchants for any restrictions that may apply or online coupons that may need to be printed. OfficeMax Deal:  Make any purchase at OfficeMax and receive a $5 off coupon on your purchase of $25 at Payless Shoesource. Good through:  September 6 Creative Playrooms Deal:  $100 ($25 per week) off tuition for new, full-time enrollees. Good through:  December 30 Bay Lobsters Fish Market Deal:  $5 off any purchase of $25 or more. Good through:  August 31 Streem …

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Frugal Family: Valentine's Savings at Solon Businesses

Check out our weekly dose of deals in the Solon area

This week, Frugal Family found some Valentine’s Day-themed deals that pretty well cover everything your loved ones could wish for, including jewels, chocolate, romance and more.  Did I mention chocolate?  Some restrictions may apply, so check with merchants for more information.   1. RINALDI JEWELRY  Deal: Seiko watches at 35 percent off and other selected merchandise 20-50 percent off. Good through: Feb. 15 2. MUSTARD SEED MARKET  Deal: Varieties of bulk chocolate on sale including organic milk chocolate-covered raisins $1 off per pound and dark chocolate almonds for $2 off per pound; regular dark chocolate almonds and raisins for $2 off per pound and chocolate-covered cherries and cranberries for $1 off per pound. Good through: Feb. 13 3…

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