Kearney Waldenbooks Hilltop Mall Store to Close in January

"The closing of the Kearney Waldenbooks store is not a reflection on the community," said manager Laura Tadlock. "Kearney has been supportive of our Waldenbooks store."

The Kearney, Nebraska Waldenbooks store has been a great addition to the Hilltop Mall for years. It is the one place we make sure to visit when my family and I shop at Hilltop Mall. Though not a large store, the Kearney Hilltop Mall Waldenbooks store has always offered a nice choice of books and helpful service.

As an author, I've appreciated the enthusiasm with which they have promoted local authors. Over the years, I've had several book signings at the Kearney, Nebraska Hilltop Mall Waldenbooks store, often with Lincoln, Nebraska, author Stephanie Whitson.

The Kearney, Nebraska, Hilltop Mall Waldenbooks store is only one of 200 Borders Group book stores slated to be closed in January. Along with the Waldenbooks outlets, many Borders Express and Borders Outlet stores will also be closed down. In Nebraska, the Kearney Hilltop Mall Waldenbooks store is not the only outlet to be closed down. Also scheduled for closing is Waldenbooks store at the Conestoga Mall in Grand Island, to the east of Kearney, and at The Mall in North Platte, west of Kearney, as well as the Borders Express at Oakview Mall in Omaha.

The decision is economic. Bookstores are bleeding through lack of customers who often find it easier to click Buy online than to get dressed, get in the car and drive across town to a physical, brick and mortar book store.

Borders headquarters does promise that the Waldenbooks stores such as the Kearney Hilltop Mall Waldenbooks store will still be stocked for Christmas.

Laura Tadlock, manager of the Kearney Hilltop Mall Waldenbooks store, agreed that the store would be stocked for Christmas. She also confirmed that the Kearney Hilltop Mall Waldenbooks store would begin offering clearance sales later in December.

Kearney is losing a good bookstore, leaving Hastings Entertainment and The Solid Rock, a Christian bookstore, as the only Kearney, Nebraska bookstores. Hilltop Mall is losing a store that drew customers. While Borders Group is seeking a more firm financial footing, it is sad that mall stores, even those holding their own, have been slated for elimination.

Meanwhile, Kearney citizens can find their way to the Kearney Hilltop Mall Waldenbooks store to show support for the helpful staff and send the Kearney Hilltop Mall Waldenbooks store off, not with a whimper, but with a bang.

Borders Group press release
Laura Tadlock, Manager the Kearney Hilltop Mall Waldenbooks store
Experience