In Memoriam: Wystan
Louis and Tom Borders in their book store on State Street, April, 1976.
APRIL, 1976 -- Louis (left) and Tom Borders, checking inventory lists in their bookstore on S. State Street. Lou, an early computer whiz, invented a book inventory system (using miniature punch cards inserted in each book) that proved to be so successful that the brothers franchised its use to other bookstores around the country. Later, they started opening branch stores in cities other than Ann Arbor. K-Mart Corporation bought out their small chain, then sold it to bigger fish after a few years. The rest is history -- and, as we know, the story ended badly, in 2011. In this Ann Arbor News photo, taken nearly forty years ago, the future tycoons are posed on the second floor of their last State Street location (the former Wagner Men's Clothing store), with several book browsers visible in the background. (Online photo, from the Ann Arbor District Library's collection.)
Louis and Tom Borders in their book store on State Street, April, 1976.
APRIL, 1976 -- Louis (left) and Tom Borders, checking inventory lists in their bookstore on S. State Street. Lou, an early computer whiz, invented a book inventory system (using miniature punch cards inserted in each book) that proved to be so successful that the brothers franchised its use to other bookstores around the country. Later, they started opening branch stores in cities other than Ann Arbor. K-Mart Corporation bought out their small chain, then sold it to bigger fish after a few years. The rest is history -- and, as we know, the story ended badly, in 2011. In this Ann Arbor News photo, taken nearly forty years ago, the future tycoons are posed on the second floor of their last State Street location (the former Wagner Men's Clothing store), with several book browsers visible in the background. (Online photo, from the Ann Arbor District Library's collection.)