JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Another retail giant shut down one if its brick-and-mortar stores.
The Best Buy store along Atlantic Boulevard closed, leaving some local businesses surprised.
A sign outside written by liquidators says they don't know any details about why the store closed, although Best Buy officials say the store officially closed its doors March 6.
One local business owner, who runs an event venue not far from the Best Buy thinks this is a result of COVID-19 causing challenges.
The sign read in part: "we do not talk about it - shush."
“That’s when you know it’s real, when its affecting larger businesses because it’s affected smaller businesses,” said Pam Polite, owner of the Grand Rose Ballroom at Regency.
She's owned the venue, which does weddings, banquets and other events.
“Business has been great up until COVID hit, so it has drastically affected us. But we basically pray a lot, do what we can to improvise,” Polite said.
Polite says she can host 50 to 60 people for events and has been getting more calls lately for reservations.
She thinks the area has brought several clients through her doors.
“I think that it’s been great here, we haven’t had any complaints," Polite said. "We don’t have anything that happens because we run a tight ship here and we’re very particular about what we take.”
Meanwhile, liquidators say they are selling the remnants of the Best Buy shelves and furniture after the store closed.
“The decision to close a store is never an easy one, and we are grateful for our customers who have shopped with us over the years at our Jacksonville location on Atlantic Boulevard. Customers can continue to shop with us at our other four stores in the Jacksonville area,” a Best Buy spokesperson told First Coast News.
While there are other locations, Polite feels the store closing will cause a ripple effect.
“That’s fewer people, so less traffic, so we hope everyone knows we’re here to do events, on a smaller scale, we’re here to help people,” Polite said.
According to a USA Today report, Best Buy executives closed several stores during the COVID-19 pandemic.