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Borders reopens on Broadway near Wall Street
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Lower Manhattan celebrated another rebuilding milestone yesterday as the new Borders Books & Music opened on Broadway near Wall Street, replacing the popular World Trade Center location destroyed in the terrorist attack. Mayor Michael Bloomberg helped cut the ceremonial ribbon, using the store's opening as occasion to announce new legislation proposed to speed the overall rebuilding process downtown.
"Borders' return adds to the excitement and energy of what's going on downtown and this is great news to the shoppers, residents, and small businesses owners in the area who have long awaited this day," said Bloomberg.
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| Mayor Bloomberg and Borders' CEO Greg Josefowicz |
The new bookstore comes as one of many recent successes in the downtown rebuilding process, including the May reopening of the Millenium Hotel across from the World Trade Center site, the allocation of $25 million for parks and open space downtown, and last week's return of the greenmarket to Liberty Street.
New Legislation to Speed Rebuilding Proposed
Calling it "especially meaningful" on the day of the bookstore's grand opening, the mayor also announced a proposed state law under consideration in Albany that would spur redevelopment by shortening construction projects that are crucial to the downtown rebuilding process. The plan, named the "Coordinated Construction Act for Lower Manhattan," includes provisions that would allow public agencies to work collaboratively as never before and standardize best business practices in the construction process.
"Enacting it would send the important message that Lower Manhattan is on the fast track to a dynamic recovery," said Bloomberg. The city will work with Gov. George Pataki and the State Legislature to get the bill passed this year, he added.
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| Long lines formed on the store's first day |
For many, yesterday's Borders return was indication enough that Lower Manhattan is returning to economic health. "I am so excited!" exclaimed Judi Panevino, an interior designer who lives and works in Lower Manhattan. "The old store in the World Trade Center was like our extended home, and to us down here, having it back is incredibly important."
Panevino was headed to a bookstore at Union Square to do research when she walked past and discovered that Borders had opened. "I've been watching and watching for it to open up," she said. "This is really big news for the neighborhood."
The new store fills 31,200 square feet in the historic American Surety Building at 100 Broadway. It features two full floors and a mezzanine stocked with thousands of books, music, and movie titles, as well as a café operated by gourmet food purveyor Dean and DeLuca.
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| A customer settles in and examines a book |
For Matt Simon, who works on Wall Street, the store also fills an important void. "I couldn't wait for it to open," said Simon, who reads mostly fiction and buys a new book every couple of months. He added that his book shopping has mostly been in midtown or near his home in New Jersey since 9/11. "Now that I can come here, I'll probably buy books more often," he said.
"There's something special about a bookstore," said City Council Representative Alan Gerson, as he praised Borders' officials for returning to Lower Manhattan. "New Yorkers are a literate people and this is a literate community," he said, noting that the bookstore's return is important to the retail economy, but more important to the exchange of ideas and information.
The community's warm welcome touched returning Borders' staff members. "This outpouring of goodwill has been so gratifying," said general manager Melissa Glowski.. "The staff is so excited to be able to provide a sanctuary for the neighborhood."
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