Best Buy Confirms Closure East Harlem Big Box Store

Best Buy announced plans March 29, 2012 to close 50 U.S. stores as part of a number of key initiatives for this year. To date, they have closed two stores this year (one in Kansas City, Mo., and one in Scottsdale, Ariz.), plus have notified five Twin Cities stores and one San Antonio store that they will close later this year.

This morning, they have confirmed the remaining 42 store locations that will close, which includes the East River Plaza, 517 E 117th Street store in East Harlem. Employees of these 42 stores have been notified this morning.

In a statement Best Buy stated, that “This was not an easy decision to make. We chose these stores carefully, and are working to ensure the impact to our employees will be as minimal as possible, while serving all customers in a convenient and satisfying way. But we also recognize the impact this news has on the people who deserve respect for the contributions they have made to our business.”

Best Buy continued, “We will be working to help these employees find other positions inside Best Buy. If they don’t find new positions, or if they choose not to work at a different location, a transition including severance packages will be available.”

Three of these 42 locations remain open today, Saturday; the rest of the affected stores are closed today, and will reopen Sunday, April 15. Customers currently doing business with these stores are being contacted today.

Best Buy expects most of these stores will permanently close by May 12. Three additional locations are expected to permanently close later this summer.

More broadly, their goal is intended to increase points of presence, while decreasing overall square footage, for increased flexibility – including key store remodels with a new Connected Store format, while continuing to build out the successful Best Buy Mobile small format stores throughout the U.S.

A complete list of store locations can be found at the end of this statement link here.