hhgregg Store In Annapolis To Close

ANNAPOLIS, MD — The hhgregg store in Annapolis will soon be closing, company officials announced Thursday.

The store in Annapolis Plaza will likely close in April, according to a statement from hhgregg.

It is one of 88 stores nationwide and 11 in Maryland marked as underperforming by the company, which sells electronics, furniture and appliances.

"After scrutinizing our real estate portfolio, we have identified a number of underperforming stores, as well as store locations that are no longer strong shopping destinations due to changes in the local retail shopping landscape," hhgregg President/CEO Robert J. Riesbeck said in a statement. "We are strategically exiting markets and stores that are not financially profitable for us."

Other Maryland hhgregg stores closing are in Bel Air, Catonsville, Frederick, Glen Burnie, Hagerstown, Hanover, Largo, Rockville, Towson and Waldorf.

Currently, there are 220 hhgregg stores in 19 states, and the decision to consolidate the corporate footprint came weeks after hhgregg announced it would need to restructure to earn a profit.

On Thursday, hhgregg reported that it would be eliminating approximately 1,500 positions through the closures.

"We feel strongly that the markets we will remain in are the right ones for our customers and our business model," Riesbeck said. "Our team is dedicated to moving forward and being a profitable 132 store, multi-regional chain where we will continue to be a dominant force in appliances, electronics and home furnishings."

In the weeks ahead, the stores will sell off their inventory, with the locations to shutter by the middle of April.

hhgregg is located in Annapolis Plaza at 150 Jennifer Road in Annapolis.

Patch file photo.