Riverhead Best Buy Closure Uncertain

With 50 Best Buy stores around the United States slated for closure, the status of Riverhead's Route 58 location remains up in the air.

Last Thursday, Best Buy officials announced that the well-known electronics retailer will close 50 of its United States big box stores and lay off 400 employees at corporate and support levels. Best Buy also has plans to open 100 smaller, mobile stores.

Specific stores targeted for closure locally, if any, have not been announced.

According to the La Mesa, CA Patch, were announced after news that the company, which has headquarters based in Richfeld, MN, showed a $1.7 billion loss in revenue after fiscal year fourth quarter earnings were released.

Sue Busch-Nehring, Best Buy spokeswoman, could not divulge whether any Long Island locations would be affected.

"We are taking the necessary steps this next year to evolve our total retail store strategy, and make it even easier for customers to shop with Best Buy and access our services," she said.

The closure of 50 sites, Busch-Nehring said, will allow the company to "fuel growth initiatives," including Connected Stores that she said would provide better service and product interactivity.

"We are deliberate and thoughtful when we make such decisions; we are working to ensure the impact of these 50 store closures on the affected employees will be as minimal as possible, while serving all of our customers in a convenient and satisfying way," Busch-Nehring said.

Last Thursday, Busch-Nehring said Best Buy notified employees at five stores in the Twin Cities area, and one store in the San Antonio area, that their stores will close later this year as Connected Store remodels are completed in their markets.

"We recognize the impact this news has on the people who deserve respect for the contributions they have made to our business, and for customers who shop these stores today. We will be working to help the employees affected by these closings to 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 once the stores close later this year," Busch-Nehring said.

"We will announce details about additional, specific store locations and timing for closings as they are finalized," she added.

Riverhead locals were hit hard when another big box store, closed last year. But despite a sluggish economy, the area welcomed a brand-new and an influx of jobs when the new location opened on Route 58 last fall.

Christine Sampson, editor of the Three Village, NY Patch, contributed to this article.