Pier Park Borders

**NotDeadYet** · 04-16-2008, 10:15 AM

Is this open yet?? Anyone know?

**TreeFrog** · 05-30-2008, 06:11 AM

Bumpity bump.

Same question.

**wrobert** · 05-30-2008, 06:13 AM

Originally Posted by NotDeadYet

Is this open yet?? Anyone know?

Yes. I had breakfast in the coffee shop last Sunday. Nice store.

**NotDeadYet** · 05-30-2008, 07:47 PM

I think it is a really cool store. You can download music, do all sorts of geeky things there. Big DVD section. IMHO better book selection than B&N, and better vibes.

**TreeFrog** · 05-30-2008, 09:31 PM

As chain book stores go, I much prefer Borders over B&N. I've been dismayed to hear reports that B&N may be considering a takeover bid.

Glad to hear it's open WRobert. I think I'll head over there this weekend.

Standard disclaimers apply - I still spend much of my book budget at Sundog. Supporting local book sellers is a good thing.

**beachmouse** · 05-30-2008, 10:23 PM

I'll always have a soft spot for Borders because I remember going there when they were just this awesome indie book store on State St. in Ann Arbor.

Then Waldenbooks bought them out, not with the idea of building a chain of big box stores, but because they wanted to get ahold of Borders' computerized inventory system.

**TreeFrog** · 05-31-2008, 09:41 AM

Originally Posted by beachmouse

I'll always have a soft spot for Borders because I remember going there when they were just this awesome indie book store on State St. in Ann Arbor.

As long as we're on that path, for me there's nothing finer than a trip to Powell's in Portland.

**DuneLaker** · 05-31-2008, 01:43 PM

Besides shopping locally at Sundog Books in Seaside and The Bookstore in DeFuniak, my favorite bookstore is V&J Duncan Antique Maps, Prints & Books in Savannah.

**Jdarg** · 05-31-2008, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by TreeFrog

As chain book stores go, I much prefer Borders over B&N. I've been dismayed to hear reports that B&N may be considering a takeover bid.

Glad to hear it's open WRobert. I think I'll head over there this weekend.

Standard disclaimers apply - I still spend much of my book budget at Sundog. Supporting local book sellers is a good thing.

I agree. I like Border's better as well, and have never been able to figure out exactly why, but I just do.

But I prefer Sundogs here and Carmichael's in Louisville.

**destinscuba** · 06-01-2008, 01:12 AM

A local bookstore is always better that a national chain, unless they don't have your book, but I've always loved the atmosphere of Borders better than either Barnes&Noble or Books-a-Million, but in general the overall lay-out Pier Park is such a turn-off....you have to park behind most of the stores, HOW is any different that most traditional malls...It isn't!...the PC mall has the same layout....When you get out of your car there is a big blank brick wall to greet you....at Pier Park it is a big blank stucco wall...but like most things in Bay County, they shot for the stars and end up hitting a sewer line....I mean ____ is a typical t-shirt shop likeI'd much rather go to Destin Commons.

**Jdarg** · 06-01-2008, 10:36 AM

Originally Posted by destinscuba

A local bookstore is always better that a national chain, unless they don't have your book, but I've always loved the atmosphere of Borders better than either Barnes&Noble or Books-a-Million, but in general the overall lay-out Pier Park is such a turn-off....you have to park behind most of the stores, HOW is any different that most traditional malls...It isn't!...the PC mall has the same layout....When you get out of your car there is a big blank brick wall to greet you....at Pier Park it is a big blank stucco wall...but like most things in Bay County, they shot for the stars and end up hitting a sewer line....I mean ____ is a typical t-shirt shop likeI'd much rather go to Destin Commons.

I had the same observation about the parking. I went to Pier Park on Friday to order some invitations at No Regrets (AWESOME store!) . I parked in the big side lot, behind No Regrets and I believe Margaritaville. To get to the storefronts, I had to walk past the open-to-view restaurant loading dock/garbage area/employee hangout. There was garbage everywhere, it smelled, and about 15 employees were standing in the midst of the garbage taking a smoke break. No one was cleaning up this mess that was available for all visitors to see. Blech.....I wasn't interested before, and now I know I won't eat there!

But back to No Regrets- if you need beautiful stationary, invites, announcements, or gifts- this is your place. I ordered printed invites on Friday morning, and I am picking them up today! Great service!

**jamnolfin** · 06-01-2008, 06:22 PM

Wow, I think Pier Park is so much better than Destin Commons. At Dc there are no good restaurants, no bars, and no place for a man to shop. Im not a country boy so Bass Pro Shop doesnt interest me. Weve been having a blast at PP. Weve been doing all our shopping, eating and partying in Destin for years but the tides turning. Destin is built out for the most part and PCB is just getting going with plenty of land and money.

**destinscuba** · 06-02-2008, 02:40 PM

Originally Posted by jdarg

But back to No Regrets- if you need beautiful stationary, invites, announcements, or gifts- this is your place. I ordered printed invites on Friday morning, and I am picking them up today! Great service!

Cool....I ran across this site (Jinky Wink)awhile back, I have yet to order any.

**ShallowsNole** · 06-02-2008, 04:55 PM

While I like the Best Buy/Michaels strip across from Destin Commons, and the Bed Bath & Beyond west of Destin Commons, I really have very little use for Destin Commons anymore with the exception of Dave's Dogs, Seychelles (though I'll never be able to get anything from there) and Wyland Galleries (Fuzz likes the titty art

).

And it's not the shopping center itself; it's the fact that Destin Commons is the teen/preteen hangout for South Walton, and a little bit of security on Friday and Saturday night around the family bathroom, the boats at Bass Pro, and perhaps locking the East Office Bldg would go a long way.

I'm sure Pier Park has the same issues. However, my son isn't trying to get rides to Pier Park yet, so I still love it.

**TreeFrog** · 08-09-2008, 03:41 PM

I finally visited the Pier Park Borders for the first time today. I was a little disappointed. Some impressions...

-Small CD department. But the smallish selection at least seemed nicely rounded, not just the latest high-volume releases.
-Space wasted (to me) for three stations to "download and create your own CD" area. Huh? I can do that just fine at home, thanks.
-Not a very big store, only about half the size of the Destin B&N. It's like "Borders Lite". Less square feet = less books.
-I do like the handy search PC stations spread around the store.
-It seems the emphasis has moved to merchandising. Maybe that's just the Pier Park "entertainment shopping" thing going on. But, given the size of the store, there could be a lot more books in there than they have.
-The staff seems helpful.