That effort has just gotten a boost in the form of Borders Books, which is opening two units. The first store, which is opening today in Terminal A, totals just under 2,000 sf and carries some 8,000 book titles. The second, just under 3,500 sf, will carry 12,000 titles plus a line of gifts when it opens in January in Terminal C. Both stores are bookstore/café combinations, with the café portion operated by Seattle's Best Coffee.

"Newark Liberty International Airport is an extremely busy hub for business travel," according to Richard Carlson, airport project manager for the Ann Arbor, MI-based Borders Group Inc. "We are fortunate to have the opportunity to extend the Borders 'experience' to the millions of visitors passing through Newark every year."

The chain opted for the NLIA locations based on demographics, traffic patterns and "the attractiveness of the site," according to Carlson. His company operates 390 domestic Borders superstores, another 29 international stores, 37 Books etc. locations and some 800 Waldenbooks stores, one of which is located in NLIA's Terminal C. The company also sells books online in partnership with Amazon.com.