Weeks after filing for bankruptcy, Hastings said Thursday that it will close all of its entertainment store locations, including eight in Arkansas, in addition to shuttering its online shopping and corporate operations.
Hastings, which is headquartered in Amarillo, Texas, has Arkansas locations in Batesville, Benton, Conway, Fort Smith, Jonesboro, Mountain Home, Russellville and Searcy, according to its store locator map.
Closure dates for the stores in Arkansas have not been determined, according to Hastings corporate spokesman Peyton Burgess. Local store managers declined to comment.
Hastings, which has more than 125 stores across the U.S., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection five weeks ago.
Thursday’s announcement came a day before a federal bankruptcy court in Delaware is expected to approve an agreement with two firms, Illinois-based Hilco Merchant Resources LLC and Massachusetts-based Gordon Brothers Retail Partners LLC, ending the search for a buyer.
Hastings said the buyers in a joint venture will “oversee a liquidation of our stores to ensure we are maximizing the value of all of our remaining merchandise and assets as we prepare to close.”
“We thank our customers and employees for their loyalty over the years, and we hope to see our customers at store closing sales,” a corporate statement reads in part.