Charlotte, NC - Eliot Schoenhoff and his mom Melissa are picking up his summer reading, “When I come here I have so many books I want to read."

The 12 year old and his mom have been patrons of Park Road Books practically his whole life and they say there's no comparison to the major bookstore chain.

Melissa Schoenhoff says, “You know who you're gonna see behind the counter and they suggest the greatest books."

Tenisha Stanley agrees. She's on a break from work picking up Vladimir Nabokov's Lolita. The Rock Hill resident says independent book stores are always her preference, “It's cozier. It feels more real, I guess."

Manager Frank Burleson says that's music to his ears, “Now since the advent of big stores closing we're seeing people we haven't seen in 5 or 6 years coming back."

The store has been in operation 34 years and is one of last remaining independent book stores in Charlotte.

Last year for the first time in years the American Booksellers Association says there was an increase in independent bookstores.

Burleson says publishers lose lots of selling space when a major giant like Borders Bookstores closes. He says reps will likely seek out the independent stores again.

Burleson expects to see a lag in sales while Borders clears its shelves, but then a boost once the market is no longer saturated.

At Book Buyers Used Book Store Lee Rathers says there are on-line challenges too, “Now with Amazon and e-readers coming out it's sort of shifting."

Back at Park Road Books Burleson says true book loyalists will always be around.

Melissa Schoenhoff says thanks to Park Road Books she's one of them, “It's fun just to look and hang out, it's a great place to be."

Borders expects its going out of business sale will wrap up and all remaining stores will close by mid-September.