By Shereen Siewert
WAUSAU — The embattled Wausau Center mall is about to lose yet another retailer, as GameStop officials confirm they will shutter the company’s downtown location later this month.
The Wausau location is one of 150 GameStop locations to close as part of a “multi-year strategy” first introduced in 2011, according to Joey Mooring, director of corporate communications for GameStop Corporation. Insiders say increasing competition and digital sales are partly to blame for the company’s fiscal challenges.
Increasing competition and digital sales may be to blame for GameStop’s plan to shutter at least 150 of its 7,500 stores worldwide.
The Texas-based retailer operates about 7,500 stores worldwide including two locations in the Wausau metro area: one at Wausau Center mall and the other in Rib Mountain. Company officials have not yet said if the Rib Mountain store is slated for closure.
News of the closure comes despite relatively positive third quarter results for the company, which reported just under $2 billion in sales. New hardware sales increased 8.8 percent, led by demand for Nintendo Switch, and new software sales increased 5.4 percent, driven by a strong title lineup, company officials said.
“Our third quarter sales results were driven by strong software demand and continued momentum for Nintendo Switch and collectibles,” said Dan DeMatteo, interim chief executive officer.
Wausau store employees were notified of the closure this week. The store will officially close its doors on Jan. 20.
