Borders (West Gate)

I was surprised to find Borders back in Singapore after the closure of the wheelock outlet some years ago. I remembered the late night book shopping on eve of weekends and the crazy calender sales every year end but this outlet seems like a long throw from the Borders I know.

The size of the outlet is way too small as compared to the previous Borders and selection of books are not as wide. I recall a very exclusive and interesting stationary department with pretty notebooks and special limited handicraft designed stationeries available but what I spot here are tads of stuffs from popular bookstore. The lighting of the store is good though some areas are rather gloomy, no lounging areas... do you recall the old borders? where one can lounge and browse the books you are about to buy, yet here there's no space for seats, no view and not to mention no crowd.

How you arrange your books takes some effort to make buying and browsing conducive, that's why the shelves at the old borders are almost always kept low when most people could reach the highest shelving and could feel spacious by seeing the occasional view of the other side, yet it is not so here. I think the shelves are way too high and spaced too closely. It feels like you are trying to put too many things in the shop and it kinda lost the original spirit the brand Borders carry.

Service was a so so. I was trying to find this book, though its a little unheard of on our side of the globe yet after waiting about 5 mins at the tiny and isolated counter, nobody came. Perhaps its the late timing or the weekday syndrome. The general walking space of the shop is good and varieties of books better than a neighbourhood book store, however BORDERS is a big name and the image and culture it carries is simply difficult to match up to i suppose. Well, i look forward to further improvements as I was quite dismayed after visiting this outlet.

Location: 4/5 (near to a few huge malls and the Jurong East MRT) Selection of titles: 2.5/5 Ambience, Comfort level: 2.5/5 (no lounging area but ample walkway space) Convenience: 3/5 Service: 3/5

Will I come back: Not for the time being

Will I bring my friends: Not so sure!