Sony is pulling the plug on its next-to-last remaining company store.
It’s Costa Mesa, Calif., showroom, located in the ginormous South Coast Plaza mall, is set to permanently shut its doors at the close of business this Sunday (Aug. 23).
That will leave only its New York flagship, actually more of a showcase, that’s located at the base of the Sony Tower in Midtown Manhattan.
That store too may soon be a thing of the past, as the real estate developer who purchased the building for $1.1 billion in 2013 is reportedly looking to open an ultra-luxury hotel in the space.
Sony’s dismantling of its direct-sale operation will be pretty much complete by August 28, when its online store, located at store.sony.com, will take its final orders. The e-commerce site will be replaced with an information-only offering that showcases products and hands off interested shoppers to authorized retailers.
The move is in line with the vendor’s renewed emphasis on its dealer base and closes the book on the storied Sony Style chain, which peaked in 2008 with 59 stores and almost $1 billion in revenue.
