When Borders announced the acquisition of the premises on the corner of East Seventh and New Hampshire streets in 1997, it opened a can of worms, and the sound reverberated around Lawrence.

“We can’t let a national chain come in and ruin our local bookstores,” shouted protesters.

“We’ll benefit from access to a wider variety of books and music under one roof; competition can be healthy,” countered supporters.

The tension still lingers in a city known for its international flavor and community spirit.

The national company started as a local venture in 1971 when Tom and Louis Borders opened an 800-square-foot used bookstore in the academic community of Ann Arbor, Mich. They called it Borders Book Store. Success led to expansion, and a series of mergers over the years created the larger chain we know today. If a business like Borders offers good products, great service, treats employees well and contributes to the local community in a variety of ways, should it be avoided because it’s successful?

General Manager Lisa Bakke is aware of the tensions created by differing viewpoints. She’s worked at the Lawrence store since its opening and is passionate about people and literature.

“We’re committed to contributing to and connecting with the local community wherever we are,” she said. “We’ve deliberately tried to create a warm, informal gathering place here for people to nourish relationships and make and build community connections.”

Ruby Shade, senior partner at Commerce Bank, and James Fouche-Schack of the Lawrence Chess Club can attest to this. Their groups meet in the refurbished Seattle’s Best Cafe, which occupies the northwest corner of the 20,000-square-foot premises. The cafe area is more than twice the size of the original secondhand Michigan bookstore. It’s tastefully decorated with warm earth tones and muted reds, has comfortable seating, large windows and strategically placed lighting that helps create an airy, spacious, welcoming atmosphere.

“I like having the Chess Club here,” Fouche-Schack said. “It has good tables, lighting, and the hours are good for us. We’ve been meeting here every Monday night since the store’s opening.”

Local restaurants were reluctant to host the Club, but Borders welcomed them with open arms at the beginning.

Shade leads knitting and book groups, as well as other events, and has high praise for Bakke.

“She’s welcoming, supportive and reviews and recommends books for us, and provides coffee,” Shade explained.

Wendy Pinne, a volunteer for the United Way of Douglas County and a member of the knitting group, is an avid “shop local” supporter who isn’t conflicted about using Borders.

“There’s a real community feeling here, which is what Lawrence is all about,” she said as she sipped a decaffeinated coffee.

Margaret Merrion, another regular, taught at Broken Arrow School for more than 25 years and loves being around books and people in a coffee-bar setting. Her story is one of many shared in the cafe. As a child in Honolulu, she witnessed the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

“We stood on the roof of our house and watched the planes coming in. It was horrific,” she said. Many friends lost their homes, and her father, Dr. Douglas Bell, invited three displaced families to stay with them until their lives and homes were rebuilt.

I sipped tea in a huggable red ceramic mug as I listened to stories. There’s a variety of white, black, green and herbal Tazo loose-leaf teas to choose from. “Teapot Service” – consisting of a glass teapot with an internal infuser – is available for $2.60, but I opted for the cheapest offering – a 12-ounce black tea with whole milk.

There’s also a selection of baked goods like marshmallow squares, apple pie and a reduced-fat banana loaf cake to choose from.

Baristas Patrick Moore and Jenny Hadley, English majors at Kansas University, tried to coax me to try something. They typify the friendly, helpful and knowledgeable young people who serve in the cafe.

“I love being surrounded by great books and friendly people,” Hadley enthused.

They appreciate the good benefits for part-time employees.

If you enjoy good tea/coffee and conversation in a pleasant setting, and aren’t averse to checking out a national store which started small and local, you’re in for a pleasant surprise.