Borders Books and Music to Open Store in Highland Park, Ill.

Business Editors

ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 21, 2002

Borders Books and Music will open a 23,909-square-foot store in Highland Park this August. The store will be located in the historic Fell Company Building located in the center of downtown Highland Park, just east of Greenbay on Central Avenue, and will cater to the Highland Park community and its neighbors of the North Shore.

Borders will offer Highland Park a comfortable place to explore over 200,000 book, music, DVD and periodical titles, as well as the opportunity to experience the cutting-edge service technology backed by a professional staff with a commitment to the Highland Park community.

"Borders appreciates the value of becoming a part of the community," said Cynthia Smith, district manager for the new Highland Park location. "Our stores host free events such as lectures, author signings, musical performances, children's activities and `Benefit Days' that support local charities."

Borders decision to locate in this Highland Park location was based upon a variety of reasons including demographics, traffic patterns, the availability of parking and the attractiveness of the neighborhood location.

"The Chicago area has seen a number of suburbs redevelop their downtown business districts, but none have been as successful as downtown Highland Park," said Cheryl Levin, territorial real estate director for Borders and Highland Park resident. "The shopping district is an integral part of this charming and sophisticated community; Borders will be an excellent compliment to the fine retailers that are in the downtown area, as well as to the vibrant neighborhood atmosphere."

As a retailer, Borders is unique in tailoring its title base to respond to the interests of the customers who shop each store location. Just 50 percent of Borders' title base are common to all stores, while the other half is customized to the location by experienced buyers using the company's sophisticated computerized inventory system.

In addition to offering books, music and movies, Borders invites shoppers to unwind at Cafe Borders. In the Highland Park store, customers of the cafe can select from a variety of gourmet coffees, teas and beverages and enjoy desserts and light lunch items.

Borders Group, Inc., (NYSE:BGP) is a leading global retailer of books, music, video and other information and entertainment items with stores in the United States, United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, and the commonwealth of Puerto Rico. A FORTUNE 500 company headquartered in Ann Arbor, Mich., Borders Group employs 32,000 employees worldwide and operates over 360 Borders domestic superstores, 22 international Borders stores, 36 Books etc. locations and approximately 825 Waldenbooks stores. Teamed with Amazon.com, the company also offers online shopping through www.borders.com.

More detailed information for journalists is available at www.bgimediacenter.com. Financial data is hosted on www.bordersgroupinc.com and information on Borders stores is available through www.bordersstores.com.