Borders to close five Massachusetts stores

By Jenn Abelson, Globe Staff

Borders Group is shuttering about 200 book stores, including 5 shops in Massachusetts, as part of an effort to turn around the struggling company.

All four Waldenbooks stores in the Commonwealth will be closing in January at the following shopping centers: Westgate Mall in Brockton, Liberty Tree Mall in Danvers, Solomon Pond Mall in Marlborough, and Eastfield Mall in Springfield. A Borders Express shop also will be shuttering at Emerald Square Mall in North Attleborough.

As long as the stores remain open, they will honor previously purchased gift cards, and gift cards can continue to be used in any Borders or Waldenbooks location or online at Borders.com.

Borders Group chief executive Ron Marshall, in a statement released today, said: "We believe there remains an opportunity to profitably operate a much smaller Waldenbooks segment that complements our core Borders superstore business and continues to serve readers in their communities." After the five stores close in Massachusetts, Borders Group will operate 22 book in the state.