Customers stopping by some Best Buy stores around the United States on Saturday got a surprise: the stores had abruptly closed down for the day. When the electronics mega-chain announced a few weeks ago that they planned to close about fifty of their biggest boxes, they meant it. Forty-two Best Buy stores in twenty states (and one in Puerto Rico) will close by May 12. Or whenever they run out of stock: whichever happens first.

In their statement released on Saturday, the company explained that it’s all part of their plan to cut costs while opening more tiny Best Buys–the small-format Best Buy Mobile stores that sell only phones.

More broadly, our previously announced retail store actions are intended to increase points of presence, while decreasing overall square footage, for increased flexibility – including key store remodels with a new Connected Store format, while continuing to build out the successful Best Buy Mobile small format stores throughout the U.S.

More stores, fewer square feet. Got it.

An employee at one of the doomed stores wrote to Consumerist about what went down Saturday. Employees were offered either a severance package or potential transfer to another store. The closings are meant to boost traffic to other area stores, so in theory they will need the help.

Ultimately, our tipster doesn’t think mini-Best Buys are the answer:

I highly doubt that the surrounding stores will get that much of a boost, and they shouldnt be focusing in on Radio Shack. We need to focus on internet retailers and matching those prices, and working on providing better customer service.

If you don’t feel like clicking through, here’s the list, in alphabetical order by state.

• Casa Grande. AZ
• Peoria. AZ
• East Palo Alto, CA
• Los Angeles (Westwood), CA
• Manteca, CA
• Moreno Valley, CA
• Ontario, CA
• Pittsburg, CA
• Tustin, CA
• Aurora (Arapahoe & Parker), CO
• Fort Myers (The Forum), FL
• Tampa (Oldsmar), FL
• Fayetteville, GA
• Loganville, GA
• Addison, IL
• Chicago (87th & Dan Ryan), IL
• Deerfield, IL
• Matteson, IL
• Mundelein, IL
• West Dundee, IL
• Kansas City (Speedway), KS
• Boston (Back Bay), MA
• Wareham, MA
• Baltimore (Inner Harbor), MD
• Hunt Valley, MD
• Biddeford, ME
• Brooklyn Center, MN
• Edina, MN
• Hutchinson, MN
• Lakeville, MN
• Rochester South, MN
• Rogers, MN
• Ellisville, MO
• Monroe, NC
• Rocky Mount, NC
• Omaha (Millard), NE
• New York (East River Plaza, Harlem), NY
• Cleveland (Steelyard Commons), OH
• Dayton (Salem Mall), OH
• Caguas, PR
• Middletown, RI
• Antioch (Hickory Hollow), TN
• Austin (Techridge), TX
• San Antonio (Woodlake Parkway), TX
• Alexandria (Landmark Mall), VA
• Fredericksburg (Cosner’s Corner), VA
• East Richmond, VA
• Vancouver (Mill Plain), WA

Best Buy Confirms Closure Plans for Remaining 42 U.S. Big Box Stores [Press Release]

PREVIOUSLY:
Even Best Buy Doesn’t Like Big Box Stores, Announces Plan To Close 50 Of Them

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