People purchasing electronics at the Best Buy in Westwood Village this weekend were met with a sign outside the store letting them know it would be closed for good in less than a month.
Best Buy announced Saturday that it is closing 50 of its stores throughout the country, including the store on Weyburn Avenue. The Westwood location will close on May 12 or until supplies last, according to the company’s website.
“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 … way,” the company stated.
Andrew Thomas, executive director of the Westwood Business Improvement District, said he is not yet sure what the closure could mean for business in Westwood, but he said it is never a good thing to lose a retailer like Best Buy. He said, however, it is currently a tough economic climate for electronic stores.
“I understand why Best Buy is making this decision, but it doesn’t mean I like it,” Thomas said.
Some students who shop at Best Buy were upset with the news of the closure.
“I’m sad. It’s a good emergency place if you lose a cable that you really need or a memory card for your camera,” said Crystal Tai, a third-year business economics students who has visited the store several times.
Before going grocery shopping, Josh Low, a graduate student in public policy, stopped by the electronics store on Monday. Low said he prefers to buy big ticket items in person.
“I like coming into the store to see what a TV looks like,” Low said. “I’d rather be able to take it home that day.”
But other students said they do not think the store’s closure will have an impact on Village residents.
“I’m indifferent to (the closing),” said Jane Beck, a third-year economics student. “A lot of college students buy stuff online ““ I don’t think the store will be missed.”
In July, a Target store will be moving near the current Best Buy store, according to a November Target statement. Thomas thinks Target will fill some of the niche that Best Buy’s closure will leave empty.
“I have been to Target and I have been to Best Buy, and you can buy much of the same merchandise,” he said.
Best Buy is working to find jobs at other locations for employees who currently work at the store, according to a statement from the company. If employees do not choose to stay with Best Buy, they may be given a severance package, the company stated.
The company declined to comment. The manager and employees of Westwood’s store also declined to comment, citing corporate policy.
Contributing reports by Elizabeth Case and Erin Donnelly, Bruin contributors.