Best Buy to close 5 Minn. stores in restructuring

Best Buy will close four Twin Cities-area stores and another location west of Minneapolis, as part of its move to shut down 50 big-box stores nationwide.

Edina, Brooklyn Center, Hutchinson, Lakeville and Rogers will lose their stores sometime in the fall of 2012, said Best Buy spokeswoman Kelly Groehler.

"This wasn't an easy decision for us to make, because we recognize the impact this has on people who really deserve respect for the contributions they have made to our business and for customers who shop these stores," Groehler said.

The company says it will try to find jobs in other locations for the 301 employees affected by the closings.

Best Buy will test new store formats in the Twin Cities and San Antonio.

Remodeled stores will feature expanded Geek Squad services, a knowledge desk to assist customers and enhanced in-store pick-up services for customers who order online. Some test stores may have kitchen and bath centers.

In addition, some of the 19 big-box Best Buy stores that will remain in the Twin Cities may get smaller, reflecting the retailer's need for less floor space to sell things like DVDs and CDs.

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