It's the holiday season, and you know what that means: cheerful holiday music, neatly stacked merchandise, and the closure of the Bed Bath & Beyond in Gainesville. That's right, folks, this beloved home goods retailer is shutting its doors for good, and there's nothing we can do to stop it.
In August, Bed Bath & Beyond announced that it would be closing 150 "lower-performing" stores across the country as part of a strategic plan to improve its financial position. At the time, the company only identified 56 of the 150 locations, leaving us all in suspense. But in recent weeks, the Gainesville location was added to the list of doomed stores, according to the Prince William Times.
"In support of our current optimization strategy, Bed Bath & Beyond has decided to close the Gainesville location in the coming months," a company spokesperson said in an email. And in case that wasn't enough of a blow, the spokesperson added that the company would also be cutting 20% of jobs across the board to reduce costs.
But wait, it gets worse. Sales associates at the Gainesville store say that they haven't been told exactly when the store will close its doors for good, but all signs point to March. And as if that wasn't enough, the store-closing sale has already begun, with everything marked down 20% to 40% off the lowest ticketed price. Yes, you read that right: everything must go.
But don't despair, dear reader. While the Gainesville store may be closing, the Bed Bath & Beyond in Dulles and Fairfax will remain open, as well as the company's website. And if you're in Leesburg or Christiansburg, those stores are closing too. So there's still a chance to get your hands on discounted bedding and bath products.
But for those of us in Gainesville, the closure of the Bed Bath & Beyond marks the end of an era. We'll always remember the days of strolling the aisles, marveling at the endless rows of towels and linens, and ultimately leaving with just a single candle.
Goodbye, Bed Bath & Beyond. You will be missed.
