The Hastings Entertainment store will close by Dec. 10, about four years after it opened in the former Super Kmart space at 1245 Germantown Parkway in Cordova.
The Amarillo, Texas-based chain sells and rents movies, books and music on DVDs and CDs in an era when more and more consumers download the content onto their computer devices.
Hastings occupies 27,550 square feet in Germantown Square, which also houses Incredible Pizza and L? Ecole Culinaire.
The closing of the big box may reflect more the state of Hastings? old-school merchandise than the health of big-box retail in the vast retail corridor along Germantown Parkway.
?It?s more a sign of the industry versus the road,? said Danny Buring, managing principal of The Shopping Center Group.
While Germantown Parkway has plenty of vacancies for smaller retail, big-box space is harder to come by, he said.
Almost across the street from Hastings, the vacant Schnucks grocery will be transformed into a large farmers market by the same people who own Winchester Farmers Market, Buring said.
And just to the north of Hastings, the discount furniture chain HomeGoods is moving into the former Samuel?s furniture store, Buring said.
?If you look up and down Germantown Parkway... the pickings for a big box is very, very slim,? he said.
Today, the pickings for rental DVD movies was nonexistent.
As if parts of its retail floor were a crime scene, Hastings Entertainment cordoned off its rental movies.
?We are no longer renting merchandise,? signs said.
The store layout has movies on one end, music CDs in the middle, and the bookstore on the other end.
Lots of DVD movies and music on CDs were for sale, 10 percent off for new recordings and 30 percent off for used ones.
The store also sells some electronics, including Xbox, PlayStation and Nintendo, skateboards, T-shirts, board games and other items.
Signs posted outside inform customers the store will close as of Dec. 10, and that its gift cards can be used either at other Hastings or at its website, goHastings.com.
The chain generally locates in smaller markets. When the store opened in Memphis four years ago, the closest Hastings stores were in Dyersburg, Jonesboro, Ark., and Searcy, Ark.
Efforts to reach Hastings officials for comment were unsuccessful.
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