Wendy
03-03-2009, 09:22 AM
Virgin Megastore will close its stores around the nation this summer, including one at Downtown Disney West Side.
The company had previously announced plans to close a store in San Francisco and two in New York City. A company spokeswoman confirmed Monday afternoon that all six, including stores in Denver and Hollywood, will close this summer.
Virgin Megastores, which sell CD, DVDs and books, are part of Richard Branson's empire that includes Virgin Atlantic airlines and Virgin Music.
According to Virgin's Web site, the Downtown Disney store is the largest music and entertainment store in the Southeast, with more than 300 listening stations. It often held live performances and autograph signings.
Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez said Virgin's last day would be May 31. The store "enjoyed strong sales," she said, and Disney is in talks with several other retailers about filling the space.
Sales of CDs have been hit hard by not only by the recession but music fans' ability to download music off the Internet.
"There hasn't been any incredible mega-hits to drive customers into the stores," said Britt Beemer, Orlando-based chairman of America's Research Group, a retail polling firm. "The lack of anybody having grand slam music CDs has impacted them. When you add the Internet assault on top of it, you basically have a recipe for disaster."
Sourced Orlando Sentinel
The company had previously announced plans to close a store in San Francisco and two in New York City. A company spokeswoman confirmed Monday afternoon that all six, including stores in Denver and Hollywood, will close this summer.
Virgin Megastores, which sell CD, DVDs and books, are part of Richard Branson's empire that includes Virgin Atlantic airlines and Virgin Music.
According to Virgin's Web site, the Downtown Disney store is the largest music and entertainment store in the Southeast, with more than 300 listening stations. It often held live performances and autograph signings.
Disney spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez said Virgin's last day would be May 31. The store "enjoyed strong sales," she said, and Disney is in talks with several other retailers about filling the space.
Sales of CDs have been hit hard by not only by the recession but music fans' ability to download music off the Internet.
"There hasn't been any incredible mega-hits to drive customers into the stores," said Britt Beemer, Orlando-based chairman of America's Research Group, a retail polling firm. "The lack of anybody having grand slam music CDs has impacted them. When you add the Internet assault on top of it, you basically have a recipe for disaster."
Sourced Orlando Sentinel