GameStop Closing Locations in the United States

Summary

• GameStop is quietly closing numerous US stores, leaving customers and employees surprised and disappointed.
• GameStop's decline is evident, with its physical store count reduced by nearly one-third.
• Social media posts from customers and employees reveal widespread closures, hinting at a concerning future for the company.

GameStop is quietly shuttering many US stores, often without warning, leaving loyal customers shocked and disappointed. While GameStop hasn't officially announced widespread closures, customer and employee reports on social media since the start of the year paint a concerning picture.

For over 44 years, GameStop (formerly Babbage's) has been a major retailer of new and used video games. Launched in 1980 in a Dallas suburb with backing from Ross Perot, it peaked in 2015 with over 6,000 global locations and $9 billion in annual sales. However, the shift to digital game sales over the past nine years has significantly impacted the company. By February 2024, GameStop's physical store count had fallen by almost a third, with approximately 3,000 remaining in the US (according to ScrapeHero).

Following a December 2024 SEC filing hinting at further closures, both customers and employees have taken to Twitter and Reddit to report closed locations. One Twitter user, @one-big-boss, lamented the closure of a seemingly successful local store, fearing this signals trouble for less profitable locations. Employees have also voiced concerns, with one Canadian worker citing "ridiculous goals" imposed by management during store assessment.

GameStop Customers Keep Seeing Stores Close

The recent wave of closures continues a troubling trend for the struggling retailer. A March 2024 Reuters report predicted a bleak outlook for GameStop, highlighting the closure of 287 stores in the previous year following a nearly 20% (approximately $432 million) revenue drop in Q4 2023 compared to the same period in 2022.

Over the years, various internal and external efforts have attempted to revitalize GameStop. As its customer base migrated online, the company experimented with new strategies, including expanding into video game-related merchandise, phone trade-ins, and trading card grading. The company also received a significant boost in 2021 from a group of Reddit investors, a phenomenon documented in Netflix's Eat the Rich: The GameStop Saga and the film Dumb Money.