Best Buy to cut costs, close 50 stores, though list not finalized

The largest U.S. specialty electronics retailer for years expanded quickly by opening big-box stores across the country. But shoppers have started using the hulking stores as showrooms where they can test out products before buying them cheaper elsewhere.

To revamp the struggling chain, Best Buy said Thursday it plans to close 50 of its U.S. big-box stores, cut 400 corporate jobs and trim $800 million in costs. The company, which has about 1,400 U.S. locations, also plans to open 100 smaller and more profitable Best Buy Mobile stores throughout the country.

The company has not yet finalized the list of stores to be closed, said spokeswoman Susan Busch. In Utah, the retailer has stores in South Salt Lake, Murray, Sandy and West Jordan in Salt Lake County, as well as in Riverdale in Weber County and American Fork and Orem in Utah County. It also has one store in Park City, Logan and Washington in southern Utah. Salt Lake Tribune