TOPSHAM

The Best Buy electronics store on Fair Mall Road in Topsham will not be renewing its lease this October. The news comes on the heels of Bed Bath and Beyond moving from the same road in Topsham to Merrymeeting Plaza in Brunswick. The last day of business at Best Buy will occur on Oct. 29.

“We made the decision not to renew the lease, and we don’t takes these decisions lightly,” said Kevin Flanagan of Best Buy public relations. “As any retailer does at the end of a lease, they decide that some stores don’t make sense.”

Flanagan said the company reviewed the store’s business portfolio and “overall the sales weren’t quite strong enough,” among other reasons.

Management and employees at the Topsham Best Buy declined to comment.

There are four other Best Buy locations in Maine, including Bangor, South Portland, Augusta and Auburn. None are closer than a half hour from the Topsham area, which upset some shoppers as they learned of the news.

“It’s actually kind of sad,” said Dennis Rogers of Topsham. “My kids love Best Buy. They love coming in and testing the games.”

Rogers works locally in the IT business and frequents Best Buy when in need of electronic supplies and information.

“With the line of work I’m in, it’s not great that this store is closing,” said Rogers.

Flanigan stressed that declining sales aren’t the only reason for the store shutting its doors.

“There are a handful of reasons,” Flanagan said. “Changing customer patterns, increasing lease costs and the overall strength of the store didn’t support this particular location. Where people shop at certain times is always changing.”

Full-time employees of the Topsham Best Buy are encouraged to apply for the other store locations across the state, and will receive a leg up on the competition if they do so, Flanigan said. Full- and part-time employees who do not wish to remain with the company will receive a severance package.

“We do our best to keep our employees in our stores,” Flanagan said.

As far as the customers who frequent the Topsham Best Buy, it’s going to be hard to get used to life without another major chain in town.

“Come Christmas, if this place isn’t open, it’s going to be tough,” said Rogers. “I’m not crazy about driving a half hour (to another Best Buy location).”

Four left in Maine

• THERE ARE four other Best Buy locations in Maine, including Bangor, South Portland, Augusta and Auburn. None are closer than a half hour from the Topsham area.