Waldenbooks / B. Dalton

Waldenbooks and B. Dalton, Borders Group's mall-based chains, closed before the parent company's final liquidation. The small-format bookstores couldn't compete with superstores or online. Mall traffic decline accelerated closures. By the time Borders liquidated in 2011, most Waldenbooks and B. Dalton locations had already closed. The mall bookstore format was an early casualty of both superstore and online competition.