ANN ARBOR, Mich., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Borders will celebrate the grand opening of its first nationwide concept store beginning Friday, Feb. 22 through Sunday, Feb. 24 at its new store in Ann Arbor located at the intersection of Lohr Road and Ann Arbor-Saline Road in the Waters Place shopping center. The 28,900-square-foot concept store represents a significant enhancement over existing Borders stores inside and out and fulfills the company's mission to be a headquarters for knowledge and entertainment.

The festivities kickoff Feb. 22 when Borders Group Chief Executive Officer George Jones, Ann Arbor Mayor John Hieftje and Pittsfield Charter Township Supervisor James R. Walter host an official ribbon cutting ceremony followed by a celebratory toast to the new store with Seattle's Best Coffee(R).

Throughout the weekend-long celebration, Borders will be highlighting its newly created Destinations within the new Borders concept store -- Cooking, Travel, Wellness, Graphic Novels and Children's -- with special activities, in-store performances and prizes. These categories are so popular and rapidly growing that Borders has designated them as special Destinations and given these categories their own "shop within a shop" look and feel.

Spotlighting the Children's Destination are three separate storytimes and signings with Martin Brennan, author of "Three Lessons for Astair the Bear;" Jane O'Connor, author of "Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly;" and Nickelodeon's(R) Diego. Additionally, kids will have plenty of fun playing with Nickelodeon's games and puzzles and getting their pictures taken with Diego.

Highlighting the Cooking Destination are book signings and discussions with chef Isabella Nicoletti from the local Italian restaurant, Paesano, and author of "Perbacco Isabella!;" Sharon Kegerreis, author of "From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries;" and Eric Villegas, chef and author of "Fork in the Road with Eric Villegas TV Companion."

Customers are encouraged to participate in yoga and Pilates with Melissa Francis from Intelligent Exercise and Salsa dancing by University of Michigan's MSalsa, which highlight the Wellness Destination.

Sunday, internationally acclaimed author, Margaret Atwood, the inventor of a revolutionary new technology called LongPen(TM), will sign her latest book, "Moral Disorder," from Toronto via LongPen. LongPen makes it possible to host a live book discussion and signing with an author who is not physically present in the store. Video conferencing allows the author and readers to see and speak to each other in real time as they would in person, yet amazingly, LongPen also allows authors who may be at home or another location to personalize and autograph books for customers in the store. It is made possible using an electronic signing implement for the author that sends an Internet signal to another signing implement in the store to precisely duplicate what the author is writing. The new Borders concept store in Ann Arbor is the first retailer in the nation to feature LongPen.

Borders embraces its role as a vital, contributing member of local communities across the country and in the new Ann Arbor concept store the retailer has taken this commitment further by including a specific community space with a unique "pull down" stage to accommodate everything from local book discussion groups to national author signings and children's events.

It is in this new "Community Room" that other events will take place throughout the weekend including Sara Bareilles performing songs from her new CD, "Little Voice" in the store and live on 107.1 FM with Martin Bandyke; TLC's "While You Were Out" Mark Montano demonstrates ideas from his book, "The Big-Ass Book of Crafts;" Author of "Mommy Millionaire," Kim Lavine discusses and signs her book; author Anne Easter Smith reads and signs her newest novel, "Daughter of York;" and Rafe Esquith, author of the wildly popular "Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire," demonstrates his techniques with the aid of his students and signs his book.

Customers will have plenty of opportunity to win prizes and giveaways during the grand opening such as an exclusive Graphic Novel collection from DC Comics, a Reader Digital Book from Sony(R), a Nikon(R) Coolpix S51C Digital Camera along with a one year T-Mobile(R) Hot Spot(R) Service, and dinner for two with John Bacon, author of "Bo's Lasting Lessons," and two former University of Michigan football players.

During the grand opening and all year-long, customers can explore the Digital Center -- marked by a three-dimensional, 15-foot illuminated fixture with multiple computer kiosks and stations dedicated to digital services -- and do everything from download music on demand using Mix and Burn(TM); trace their family roots via Borders' exclusive "Discover Your Family History" by Ancestry.com(R); create personalized photo books with Shutterfly.com; and publish their own books using "Borders Personal Publishing Powered by Lulu.com(R)."

The new Borders concept store will offer customers in the Ann Arbor and Saline area community benefit days, educational discounts, diverse events, great selection, special features and a wonderful place to simply explore. Borders is dedicated to enhancing the lives of customers through knowledge and entertainment.

Grand opening events at Borders in Ann Arbor include the following:

All weekend: The Nickelodeon prizes will be given away by Diego Sunday afternoon and all other winners will be drawn after close of business Sunday, Feb. 24.

• -- Enter to win dinner for two with John Bacon and two former University of Michigan football players.
• -- Enter to win a Nikon(R) Coolpix S51C Digital Camera with one year of T-Mobile(R) Hot Spot(R) Service.
• -- Enter to win a Reader Digital Book from Sony(R).
• -- Enter to win Sony(R) Noise Canceling Headphones.
• -- Enter to win a Sansa Express(TM) MP3 player.
• -- Enter to win a Sony Video Walkman(R) - MP3 player with a color-rich screen.
• -- Enter to win a Flip Video(TM) digital camcorder.
• -- Enter to win a "Go Digital!" gift basket which includes six Borders digital services certificates for 20 lucky winners.
• -- Enter to win a Slingbox(TM) AV TV.
• -- Enter to win a Sansa(R) Clip - a tiny MP3 player with big sound.
• -- Enter to win one 8-inch digital photo frame.
• -- Enter to win one 7-inch digital photo frame.
• -- Enter to win one of two $250 Borders gift cards.
• -- Enter to win a Borders $200 gift basket filled with books, DVDs, CDs and more.
• -- Enter to win a Paperchase $200 gift bag filled with stationery, cards and gifts.
• -- Enter to win a Seattle's Best Coffee $150 gift basket.
• -- Enter to win exclusive Graphic Novel collection of eight books courtesy of DC Comics.
• -- T-Mobile(R) Hot Spot(R) seven day Wi-Fi Pass for 10 lucky winners.
• -- Enter to win SanDisk(R) 1 GB Card.
• -- Enter to win a collection of 10 cookbooks.
• -- Enter to win a history book collection filled with eight great reads.
• -- Sunday morning, six lucky children will win Nickelodeon Dora and Diego Cuddle Pillows(R).

Friday, Feb. 22:

• -- 10 a.m. - Ribbon cutting ceremony with Borders Group Chief Executive Officer George Jones, Mayor of Ann Arbor John Hieftje and Pittsfield Charter Township Supervisor James R. Walter followed by a toast with Seattle's Best Coffee. Pioneer High School's Drum Corp performs.
• -- 3 p.m. - Free photos with costume characters Strawberry Shortcake and Clifford.
• -- 4 - 6 p.m. - Solo acoustic guitarist, Jason Dennie performs.
• -- 6 - 7 p.m. - Melissa Francis from Intelligent Exercise explains and demonstrates yoga and Pilates.
• -- 7 - 8 p.m. - Seminar and Salsa dancing with University of Michigan's MSalsa.
• -- 8 - 10 p.m. - Hot Club of Detroit entertains with their jazz fusion sounds.

Saturday, Feb. 23:

• -- 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. - 107.1 FM Live remote broadcast with Martin Bandyke.
• -- 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. - Storytime, signing and activity with Martin Brenna author of "Three Lessons for Astair the Bear."
• -- 10:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. - Face painting and free photo for the kids.
• -- 11 a.m. - Storytime and signing with Jane O'Connor author of "Fancy Nancy: Bonjour, Butterfly." Kids will have the opportunity to play dress up with "Fancy Nancy."
• -- 12:30 p.m. - Sara Bareilles performs songs from her new CD, "Little Voice" in the store and live on 107.1 with Martin Bandyke.
• -- 2 p.m. - TLC's "While You Were Out" top designer, Mark Montano demonstrates innovative and fun ideas from his book, "The Big-Ass Book of Crafts."
• -- 3 p.m. - Kim Lavine, author of "Mommy Millionaire: How I Turned My Kitchen Table Idea into a Million Dollars and How You Can Too!" discusses topics and signs her book.
• -- 4 p.m. - Italian restaurant Paesano's chef, Isabella Nicoletti shares her ideas on food and wine and signs her book, "Perbacco Isabella!"
• -- 5 p.m. - Discover Michigan's Wineries discussion with Sharon Kegerreis author of "From the Vine: Exploring Michigan Wineries." A book signing will follow the discussion.
• -- 6 p.m. - Join Eric Villegas, chef of the Emmy-winning Public Broadcast Station cooking show, "Fork in the Road with Eric Villegas" as he shares healthy cooking ideas from his book "Fork in the Road with Eric Villegas TV companion." He will sign copies following his presentation.
• -- 7 p.m. - Best-selling historical fiction author, Anne Easter Smith, reads from her book, "Daughter of York," and signs copies.
• -- 8 - 10 p.m. - The Irish acoustic band, The Given Note, takes center stage for the night entertaining customers.

Sunday, Feb. 24:

• -- 12:30 p.m. - Kids of all ages can meet Nickelodeon's Diego during storytime and coloring activities in the Children's Destination.
• -- 1 p.m. - Free photo with Diego for the kids.
• -- 1 p.m. - Amazing Clark's magic and puppets entertains the kids.
• -- 2 p.m. - Rafe Esquith takes center stage with his amazing teaching techniques as kids perform a little Shakespeare, a little rock and roll, followed by a question and answer session and book signing. Esquith's wildly popular book is "Teach Like Your Hair's on Fire."
• -- 4 p.m. - Margaret Atwood signs her latest book, "Moral Disorder" via LongPen from Toronto. Borders is the first retailer in the nation to offer this revolutionary technology.
• -- 5 p.m. - Matt Watroba and Robert Jones perform their folk style music for customers.

About Borders, Inc.

Borders is a subsidiary of Borders Group, Inc., a $4.1 billion global retailer of books, music, movies, periodicals and gift and stationery items with over 30,000 employees and more than 1,100 stores worldwide primarily operating under the Borders(R) and Waldenbooks(R) brand names. Currently, there are over 500 Borders superstores in the U.S. that carry up to 200,000 titles. Customers enjoy a comfortable shopping experience, as well as a host of in-store events and community-centered activities when they visit their local Borders stores. For more information, visit www.bordersgroupinc.com.