Talks fall through to buy 30 Borders stores

NEW YORK - Bookstore chain Books-A-Million Inc. says its last-minute talks to buy the leases and assets of 30 Borders bookstores out of bankruptcy have fallen through.

Borders stores in Exton and Mays Landing had been on the list.

Borders Group Inc., which filed for bankruptcy protection in February, received court approval last week to liquidate its 399 stores. The chain said at the time it was talking to Books-A-Million about buying 30 store leases and inventory.

But Books-A-Million said Tuesday those talks were unsuccessful.

A group led by liquidation firms Hilco Merchant Resources and Gordon Brothers Group are now holding going-out-of-business stores at all Borders stores.

Birmingham, Ala.-based Books-A-Million operates 231 stores in 23 states and the District of Columbia. Borders is based in Ann Arbor, Mich.

These are the Borders locations that were on the list to be saved if the deal went through:

California
San Diego
Sand City

Connecticut
Waterford

Delaware
Dover

Ohio
Canton

Maine
Bangor
Portland

Marylan
Columbia
Hagerstown
Waldorf

New Hampshire
Concord
West Lebanon

New Jersey
Mays Landing

North Carolina
Southern Pines

Oregon
Eugene
Gresham
Salem

Pennsylvania
Butler
Exton
Hanover
Monaca
Pennsdale
Selinsgrove
Scranton
York

South Carolina
Charleston

South Dakota
Rapid City

Texas
San Antonio

Virginia
Woodbridge

Wisconsin
Eau Claire