Continuing its pattern of aggressive expansion, Borders will open a store in San Juan, Puerto Rico next year.
Sources told PW that the store will occupy a two-story, 30,000-sq.-ft. space in an expensive San Juan mall. A Borders spokesperson confirmed only that a store will open in San Juan sometime in 2000. The same source also said that the chain will order many of its Spanish-language titles from local wholesalers. English-language titles are likely to come from mainland wholesalers and distributors.
The move is regarded as a trial balloon for Borders to test Latin markets. Puerto Rico offers the advantage of learning the Spanish-language market in a less volatile climate and in an area with an affluent tourist base.
At present, Borders operates stores in Singapore, Australia, New Zealand and the U.K.
Vanzura to Leave Company
In unrelated Borders news, the company has announced the departure of Cedric Vanzura, newly promoted president of Borders Online. Among Vanzura's projects at Borders Online was the convergence of virtual and physical stores -- he spearheaded the move to put kiosks in bookstores that would link customers to Borders.com
In a statement, Borders Group CEO Bob DiRomualdo wrote, "Borders Online will continue to report to me." Vanzura will take a job at Dell Computers.
