TheBuzz Erika Engle

JAMM AQUINO / JAQUINO@STARBULLETIN.COM Starbucks and Borders are joining forces to replace Borders Cafes with new Starbucks establishments. The Pearlridge Uptown location is the first Borders/Starbucks store on Oahu.

Starbucks to open inside Borders stores

Those who knew announced a licensing agreement yesterday in which four more Borders locations in Hawaii will open Starbucks Coffee stores built right inside.

The licensing agreement is between Borders Group Inc. and Coffee Partners Hawaii, a joint venture between Starbucks Coffee International and Café Hawaii Partners.

The Borders Cafes that currently operate inside the bookstores will be converted to Starbucks stores during the next several months, with completion set for September.

"We look forward to offering the Starbucks experience to Borders customers," said Greg Meier, president of Coffee Partners Hawaii.

He noted that his stores "have always been a place to relax with a cup of Starbucks coffee and a good book and the new Borders locations will be a great addition."

One needn't limit oneself to book reading during a Borders-Starbucks visit, since Hawaii Borders stores have wireless Internet access through T-Mobile, said Beth Bingham, manager of public relations for Borders.

The stores include the Borders in Lihue on Kauai, Ward Centre in Honolulu, Maui Marketplace in Kahului, and at Waiakea Center in Hilo on the Big Island.

At the Waikele store, the Borders Cafe will close and interior access will be created to connect the bookstore to an already neighboring Starbucks.

Borders operates smaller stores at Windward Mall, which is looking to fill 22,000 square feet of space vacated by J.C. Penney with a combination bookseller and cafe. Borders officials could not provide an update on any negotiations yesterday.