The consolidation in the computer retailing industry continues at a brisk pace. And that means Chicago consumers will soon have one less choice when they are shopping for computers.
All five Computer City stores in the Chicago area will be closed sometime this fall by their new owners, CompUSA Inc., the nation’s largest chain of computer stores.
The Computer City stores slated for closure include those in Schaumburg, Deerfield, Naperville and Gurnee. A Chicago store in River North also will be closed.
The Chicago area still will be served by six CompUSA stores, said Carol Elfstrom, CompUSA spokeswoman.
Dallas-based CompUSA completed its $211 million purchase of 101 Computer City stores from Tandy Corp. on Sept. 1. On the same day, CompUSA announced it would close 50 Computer City locations, leaving 44 in the United States and seven in Canada.
The remaining Computer City stores will have their names changed to CompUSA.
The local Computer City stores will remain open during going-out-of-business sales that will likely last five to six weeks, said Sid Lambersky of Hilco/Great American Group, the liquidation firm hired by CompUSA.
Initial sale prices will be marked down as much as 20 percent, he said.
All Computer City product warranties, service commitments and training vouchers will be honored by CompUSA, the company said.
CompUSA said that it has already offered positions to all Computer City general managers and will transfer some employees to existing CompUSA stores.
All other employees will stay on during liquidation sales, CompUSA said.
