Image Credit: (SOURCE/Google Streetview)
January 31, 2013 - 1:32 PM
Future Shop has closed its doors in West Kelowna almost 16 months after their grand opening celebration.
The ribbon cutting ceremony took place Oct. 7, 2011 at 3600 Carrington Rd. The West Kelowna store was the second to open in the greater Kelowna area and among 149 in Canada.
Best Buy Canada announced the closure today, saying it's part of a "transformational strategy" including permanent closure of eight Future Shop and seven Best Buy big box stores nationwide. The West Kelowna store is the only one to close in British Columbia.
Future Shop was one of two anchor stores—including Winners—located at the Snytan Shopping Centre. Other businesses located at the mall include Five Guys Burgers and Fries, Second Cup, Peace Hills Trust, Dollar Tree, Bulk Barn, Nari Sushi, Bamboo Chopsticks Vietnamese Restaurant. The mall has yet to find retailers for all available spaces.
Best Buy Canada says they have plans over the next 36 months to implement a new strategy that includes opening state-of-the-art new Future Shop small concept web stores and new Best Buy Mobile locations across Canada, but whether that is part of a strategy for West Kelowna is not included in information offered at this time.
The company says it made changes "to reduce unnecessary costs, to eliminate redundant operating systems and to optimize its real estate strategy to reflect a changing landscape". They also say employees will receive severance support, access to employee assistance programs and career transition support. Hiring priority will be offered to previous employees across the country affected by the closures.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013