Is This Michigan Video Game Retailer Getting Out of the Game?

While some store closures like Rite Aid, Big Lots, and Walgreens have been grabbing headlines lately, one retailer is quietly getting out of the game.

Chances are good - depending on your age or your kids' ages - GameStop has been on your radar at some point in your life. From my sons' pre-teen years and beyond, they were into PS One, Playstation 2, Wii, Xbox, and Game Boy (I know I'm forgetting some), and a trip to GameStop to sell games that were no longer in favor and use allowance money to discover something new was a regular thing.

GameStop Closes Michigan Stores

Like many national retail chains, GameStop has closed its fair share of stores in recent years. According to our Battle Creek affiliate, GameStop has closed 17 Michigan stores since 2020. Since the beginning of 2022, the retailer has shuttered 227 locations across the country.

According to this site which tracks closings, GameStop has closed 66 US locations so far in 2024. Two of those locations are in Michigan.

Dearborn, MI - Fairlane Town Ctr., 18900 Michigan Ave. #N322
Hamtramck, MI - 9542 Joseph Campau Blvd.

GameStop isn't quite ready to face the final boss. As of today, the retailer has about 2,900 locations in the US, with 83 stores still open in Michigan.

Remember the GameStop Stock Craze?

GameStop grabbed headlines a few years ago for all the wrong reasons.

In 2021, GameStop's stock price skyrocketed as individual investors from the Reddit community r/WallStreetBets drove up demand, creating a "short squeeze" that forced investors who had bet against the stock to buy shares at inflated prices. This dramatic surge led to massive losses for some hedge funds and sparked widespread media attention and discussion about market manipulation and the power of retail investors.

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Check Out 21 Now-Defunct Stores We All Miss Going to in Michigan

With the holiday shopping season right around the corner, let's take a minute to remember all the stores that we used to go to that are no longer in business.