Tiger Direct is closing a store near Christiana Mall after the online retailer opted to shutter most of its brick and mortar locations.
Parent company Systemax Inc. will focus on online sales channels.
The online retailer earlier bought up defunct brands CompUSA and Circuit City and converted the stores to its well-known Tiger Direct name.
The store off Churchmans Road was rarely busy as shoppers turned to competitors such as Costco, Best Buy or online retailers for their computers and high-definition TVs.
A store in Dover was closed earlier.
The store was unique in the northern Delaware market, since it offered electronic parts that hobbyists could build their own computers or components.
The company will retain three of nearly 30 stores according to published reports.
Two former Systemax executives, Gilbert Fiorentino, 54, and Carl Fiorentino, 57, both of Coral Gables, FL, were sentenced this month in Federal Court in Florida.
The brothers were charged in connection with their participation in a scheme to obtain more than $11 million dollars in kickbacks and other benefits, and to conceal this illicit income from the IRS, while employed as senior executives at the company and its subsidiary TigerDirect,.
An FBI release reported that Carl Fiorentino was sentenced to 80 months’ imprisonment. Gilbert Fiorentino was sentenced to 60 months’ imprisonment. A hearing to determine the remaining amount of restitution owed to Systemax by the defendants has been scheduled for April 3.
Florida-based Systemax, which mainly sells through business to business (B to B) channels has remained profitable.
The store site might not be vacant for a long period, given the retail strength of the area and the decision by well-known retailers like outdoor stores REI, Cabela’s and The Container Store to open in the mall area.
The REI and Container stores are slated to open later this year in the Christiana Fashion Center adjacent to the mall.
Man, I really liked that store, too! For an IT person, it was a great resource.