Future Shop stores closed across Canada, some to become Best Buy
Dozens of Future Shop stores have been closed across Canada, its parent company Best Buy Canada Ltd. announced Saturday.
The company said it was shutting down 66 Future Shop stores effective immediately. Meanwhile, another 65 stores will be closed for a week while they are converted to Best Buy stores.
"Currently, 80 per cent of our customers are within a 15-minute drive to a store and this won't change," Best Buy president and CEO Ron Wilson said in a written release.
The company said approximately 500 full-time and 1,000 part-time positions will be eliminated as a result of the consolidation.
News of the consolidation came as a shock to employees across the country on Saturday morning.
Best Buy will honour Future Shop gift cards at any location across the country. Existing product orders, service appointments and warranties will continue to be honoured, and Future Shop purchases can be returned or exchanged at any Best Buy location.
The first Future Shop store opened in Vancouver in 1982. By 1990, it had become the largest retailer of consumer electronics in the country.
In 2001, Future Shop was purchased by Best Buy for $580 million.
Thoughts? Another 1500 jobs lost within the span of a year 
I have one walking distance from my house, I hope it's still open. Just so easy being so close when I bought a phone, TV, and laptop.