December 04, 01:49 PM 
514 Chai Chee Lane 03-16, Singapore 469029 The new Borders Singapore bookstore opened at Westgate mall in Jurong East on Monday to "oohs" and "ahs" and some "WTFs".
Borders Singapore closed down in 2011, after which, Popular Holdings acquired the right to use the name last year. An undisclosed amount changed hands. On its website, Borders Singapore revealed that it is the retail arm of New Chapter Book Co Pte Ltd, which is owned by Popular Holdings Limited.
The Borders Singapore bookstore on the fourth floor of Westgate occupies 8,000 sq ft, or about 4,000 sq ft smaller than Popular's former flagship lifestyle bookstore, Prologue, which opened in Ion Orchard in 2009 but vacated the premises in August.
However, many people have commented that the new Borders is nothing but a souped-up version of Popular.
Naysayers be damned, because here are seven obvious ways Borders is not Popular:
1. The new Borders sells assessment books, but Popular sells even more assessment books.
2. The new Borders has parquet flooring. Popular doesn't.
3. The new Borders sells stationery. Popular sells even more stationery.
4. The new Borders no longer has cozy seating area. Popular has assessment books and stationery.
5. The new Borders lacks diversity of book titles. Popular sells ear phones.
6. The new Borders stocks around 16,000 titles of books. Popular has all of Lee Kuan Yew's books.
7. The new Borders is supposed to sell a lifestyle concept. Popular sells practical things.
Convinced? Join their "Army".
Photo from Borders Singapore.
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