Golfsmith to Occupy Empty Borders Space

The Borders in Kamp Washington sold its last bookshelf and closed its doors at the end of last summer. Now a new retailer is ready to step in.

Golfsmith plans to set up shop in the old Borders space and open in May 2012.

The retailer sells a large variety of golf equipment, apparel, training tools, tech and more. It intends to take up about two-thirds of the empty storefront (30,000 square feet), leaving room for one more new addition to the shopping strip.

"There has been a high level of interest in the remaining space and discussions are ongoing with other retailers," said Geoff Durham, Fairfax City's economic development director.

The Fairfax Golfsmith store will be one of 10 brand new shops to open in the Washington D.C. area in the coming year, according to Washington Business Journal.

Borders Group Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last February. The national chain struggled to keep its businesses open, wooing potential buyers. That bid almost happened, when a private-equity firm called Najafi Cos made a bid for $215 million, but their offer was shot down by creditors and lenders. 

Now the once packed Kamp Washington parking lot sits mostly empty, with crowds of cars at the Chipotle end but few in front of the empty Borders space.

Check Patch for more information.