The Best Buy store in Merced is closing. But maybe not forever, says spokesperson
The Best Buy store in Merced will be closing in March, according to a Best Buy spokesperson. However, the company hopes to open a new Best Buy store at a new location before the end of 2020.
The store’s lease is set to run out on March 7, and the company was unable to come to an agreement with the landlord for the building located at 1764 W. Olive Ave. in Merced.
“We weren’t able to work with the landlord to stay in that spot,” said Best Buy spokesperson Kevin Flanagan. “We even tried to work it out so we could stay there until we found a new location, but the landlord had already leased out the building to somebody else.”
Flanagan added “We hope to have a new store opened up by the holidays of the new year.”
The Best Buy store in Merced opened back in 2003.
Flanagan said Best Buy doesn’t want to leave Merced. “We want to stay, we’re willing to stay,” he said. “Merced has been great. We’ve been there 17 years. We’re hoping to come back in the area with a new store at the end of the year.”
Flanagan said employees were informed on Sunday that the store would be closing in March. Best Buy in Merced has 25 full-time employees, according to Flanagan. He wasn’t sure about the number of part-time employees.
According to the Flanagan, the company is looking to move into a similar 30,000 square-foot building. He said the search has already begun in Merced for a new location.
