PANAMA CITY BEACH – Borders will celebrate the grand opening of its newest concept store beginning Friday, May 9 through Sunday, May 11 at its new store in Panama City Beach, located at the intersection of Starfish Drive and Bluefish Drive in Pier Park.

The 23,356-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.

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.

During the grand opening and all year-long, customers can explore the Digital Center – marked by a three dimensional, 12-foot 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®; create personalized photo books with Shutterfly.com; and publish their own books using “Borders Personal Publishing Powered by Lulu.com®.”

Borders will give away prizes all weekend including Borders digital services certificates, a collection of cookbooks, Seattle’s Best Coffee® gift basket and six Nickelodeon Cuddle Pillows® for the kids. In addition, customers can enter to win one of two $250 Borders gift cards or a $200 Paperchase gift bag filled with stationery, cards and gifts from the new store.

Live Entertainment schedule includes:

Friday, May 9:
8 p.m. Reminisce to the music of Jones & Company, one of Florida’s finest bands as they perform everything from blues and reggae to the oldies and latest chart busters.

Saturday, May 10:
7 p.m. Escape to the tropics through the Caribbean rhythms of award-wiining singer, musician, and performer, Chuck Lawson.

Sunday, May 11:
6 p.m. Enjoy an enchanting evening of music with selected members of Bay County’s own Panama City POPS orchestra.