Borders(R) Celebrates the Grand Opening of Its New Concept Store in Allen, Texas Aug. 15 - 17

Borders(R) Celebrates the Grand Opening of Its New Concept Store in Allen, Texas Aug. 15 - 17

DALLAS, Aug. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- Borders will celebrate the grand opening of its new concept store in Allen, Texas beginning today through Sunday, Aug. 17th. The 24,000-square-foot store, located at the intersection of West Bethany Drive and U.S. Highway 75 in the Watters Creek Shopping Center, blends digital and Internet options with a fresh new look, enriching in-store services, and a number of exciting features to create a uniquely satisfying customer shopping experience. One of 14 concept stores Borders will open this year, the Allen store represents a significant enhancement over existing Borders stores inside and out and fulfills the company's mission to be a headquarters for knowledge and entertainment.

(Logo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060208/BORDERSGRPLOGO )

While enjoying a host of family-focused activities during the grand opening celebration, customers can also peruse the Cooking, Travel, Wellness, Graphic Novels and Children's destinations within the store. Borders has given these special sections a "shop within a shop" look and feel and provided customers who shop these areas with a vast selection of titles and related products, as well as digital and Internet options via interactive computer kiosks. In the Travel destination, for example, customers can use the kiosk to research, plan and even book a trip online right there in the store; and in the Cooking and Wellness destinations, they can use the kiosks to learn about recommended titles and receive advice from Borders' expert buyers. In addition, in select destinations, there are large in-section LCD screens broadcasting a depth of content featuring some highly recognizable names in these subject areas.

Customers will also want to visit the Digital Center within the store to discover additional enriching digital and Internet-based features and services. Marked by a tall, three-dimensional fixture with multiple computer kiosks and stations dedicated to digital services, the Digital Center provides customers with the opportunity to do everything from download music using Mix and Burn(TM) and create personalized photo books with Shutterfly.com, to publishing their own books using "Borders Personal Publishing Powered by Lulu.com(R)."

Throughout the Digital Center, there are seats at the various computer stations where customers are encouraged to sit and take their time working on their projects. Importantly, Borders knows that not all customers are technologically savvy, so the company is staffing the Digital Center with trained, dedicated experts ready to guide customers of any technical level through the process to achieve their project goals.

All weekend customers can enter to win such prizes as one of five Borders' Digital Services Certificates, one of two $250 Borders gift cards, a collection of hot new cookbooks and a copy of Frank Miller's "Absolute Dark Knight." In addition, Borders will also be giving away a collection of current wellness books and a $200 Paperchase gift bag filled with stationery, cards and gifts from the new store.

Grand opening events at Borders in Allen include the following:

All weekend: All prizes will be given away on Sunday at approximately
7:00 p.m. with the exception of the Nickelodeon(R) prizes,
which will be awarded Sunday morning.

-- Enter to win a "Go Digital!" gift package - includes
select Borders digital services certificates for five
lucky winners;

-- Enter to win one of two $250 Borders gift cards;

-- Enter to win a Paperchase $200 gift bag filled with
stationery, cards and gifts;

-- Enter to win a Seattle's Best Coffee(R) $200 gift basket;

-- Enter to win a $300 collection of current cookbooks;

-- Enter to win a $230 collection of current wellness books;

-- Enter to win a copy of "Absolute Dark Knight" by Frank
Miller and illustrated by Klaus Janson and Lynn Varley;

-- Sunday morning, six lucky children will win
Nickelodeon(R) Dora and Diego Cuddle Pillows.

Friday, Aug. 15th:

-- 1 p.m. - Representatives from The Dallas Morning News
will discuss and answer questions about their new
Exclusives Program and provide giveaway prizes for the
whole family;

-- 1:30 p.m. - Colorful face painting for kids by Tami
Rachael;

-- 2 p.m. - Children will enjoy watching David Briggs as he
creates intricate and inventive balloon art;

-- 2 p.m. - Live radio remote with 106.1 KISS FM;

-- 3 p.m. - Meet Strawberry Shortcake for storytime;

-- 5 p.m. - Live performance and CD signing from
"Beatlegras";

-- 5:30 p.m. - Satisfy your sweet tooth with free chocolate
and confection samples;

-- 6 p.m. - Local favorite Doug Burr performs songs from his
latest CD "On Promenade";

-- 7 p.m. - Local folk/rock artist Creede Williams performs
live;

-- 8 p.m. - Patrick Ryan Clark performs songs from his
latest CD "Translation";

-- 9 p.m. - Texas favorite Cary Pierce performs live and
signs his latest CD "You are Here."

Saturday, Aug. 16th:

-- 9:30 a.m. - Stilt walker David Briggs will provide
excitement for the kids;

-- 10 a.m. - Meet Winnie the Pooh for Honey Brunch and
storytime;

-- 10:30 a.m. - Magician Hal Hudgins will amaze and delight
the whole family;

-- 11 a.m. - Customers will have the opportunity to view the
Allen Fire Department's engine display;

-- 11 a.m. - Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Texas'
discussion and Q&A about the organization and the Borders
August Book Drive;

-- 11:30 a.m. - Texas favorites the Texas Gypsies perform
songs from their latest CD "Cafe Du Swing";

-- Noon - Scott Kurtz, creator of the popular Webcomic
Player vs. Player, will discuss and sign "How to Make Web
Comics";

-- 1 p.m. - Satisfy your sweet tooth with free chocolate and
confection samples;

-- 1 p.m. - Alternative country artists Lost Immigrants
perform live;

-- 2 p.m. - TikiTrips.com will provide an information
session on honeymoon and destination weddings;

-- 2 p.m. - Local Dallas author Harry Hunsicker will discuss
and sign his latest book "Crosshairs";

-- 3 p.m. - Local artist Abi Tapia will perform live;

-- 4 p.m. - Best selling author James Donovan will discuss
and sign his book "A Terrible Glory";

-- 5 p.m. - Local artist Glen Farris will perform live;

-- 6 p.m. - Jim Dent will discuss and sign his book "Twelve
Mighty Orphans";

-- 8 p.m. - Local indie/folk artist Sarah Jaffe will perform
live.

Sunday, Aug. 17th:

-- 11 a.m. - Colorful face painting for kids by Tami
Rachael;

-- 12:30 p.m. - Meet Nickelodeon's Dora for storytime and
coloring;

-- 1 p.m. - City of Allen Water Conservation Group will
discuss and answer questions about how to live "Green";

-- 1 p.m. - Local artist Collin Herring will perform live;

-- 2 p.m. - Author Stephanie Elizondo Griest will discuss
and sign her latest book "Mexican Enough";

-- 3 p.m. - Senator Kay Bailey Hutchinson will discuss and
sign her book "Leading Ladies";

-- 3 p.m. - Local artist Iris Leu will perform songs from
her CD "Permanent Transient";

-- 4 p.m. - Jim Wells and the Night Owls will perform their
unique style of Blues live;

-- 4 p.m. - Author and radio host Andrea Ridout will discuss
and sign her latest book "If I Had a Hammer";

-- 5:30 p.m. - Local artist Taylor Davis will perform songs
from his CD "Taylor Davis is Magical";

Throughout the grand opening weekend and all year long, the new Borders concept store will offer customers in Allen and the rest of the Dallas-Ft. Worth metro area community benefit days, educational discounts, diverse events, great selection, special features and a wonderful place to simply explore. Borders is dedicated to enhancing the lives of customers through knowledge and entertainment.

About Borders Group, Inc.

Headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group, Inc. (NYSE:BGP), is a leading retailer of books, music and movies with more than 28,000 employees. Through its subsidiaries, the company operates more than 1,100 stores primarily under the Borders(R) and Waldenbooks(R) brand names and recently launched Borders.com for online shopping. For more information, visit www.borders.com/aboutus .

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Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060208/BORDERSGRPLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Borders Group, Inc.

CONTACT: Carlo Rich of Borders Group, Inc., +1-214-363-9305,
crich@bordersgroupinc.com

Web site: http://www.bordersgroupinc.com/
http://www.borders.com/aboutus

Company News On-Call: http://www.prnewswire.com/comp/106169.html

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