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Guitar Center closes very first store ever

#21
That happened with my store (Daddy's Junky Music). I was one of the first 4 stores to close before the overall closing of the company (my store was closed at the beginning of the summer, the company folded that October). I found out beforehand from the landlord that we were not going to be renewing our lease. I was on friendly terms with him after working there for 9 years. He came in one day to say goodbye as he was going to be out of town. I looked at him funny and asked him why he was saying that. He said that corperate decided not to renew the lease and it was up soon. He thought he should let me know. I lost it and immediately called my district manager and gave him an earful (this was 3 months after winning Store of the Year, mind you). I was warned not to say anything to anyone about it or I would be fired on the spot with no chance for unemployment. Obviously I let my assistant manager know what was happening. They ended up pushing up the timetable for closing the store by a few weeks because I found out.

Things like this do happen and they happen suddenly. Like other people said, its mainly to prevent theft. It sucks for sure, but think of it as a blessing. Its the universe telling you to move on. I was freaking out when I lost my job. I was there for 13 years total, and really didn't know anything else. I had a house, and 2 kids to figure out how to support. It was frightening. Turns out it was the best thing that ever happened to me. I got out of a dead end job (there was no shot of promotion), I was unemployed for a summer (I was actually making more on unemployment that I was at the store on a consistent basis), I got to spend time with my 1 year old daughter, and I was able to get healthy (I lost 40lbs). I got into a new job at a software company and I am now making twice as much as I have ever made at the store. Though I do miss networking with other musicians... and the discounts. Its hard to go and pay $20 for an XLR cable when I know the cost is only $5.
 
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#23
Sorry to hear that OP.
In high school I worked at a Baskin-Robbins ice cream store. For those that don't know of the chain their slogan was "31 Flavors". At some point the owner stopped ordering any new ice cream. We got down to 6 pretty undesirable flavors before arriving at work one day to find the store closed and that all fixtures had been removed overnight. At least we saw the handwriting on the wall...
 
#24
tribbledaniel said:
I agree. I was a manager. I had been on medical leave since December 18 2015. Was scheduled to go back to work March 21 2016. I showed up for work and was given a termination notice. No warning at all. And I had been in communication with the office all along. Checking in at least once a week.
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Unless the entire location was closed, they can't just [generically] terminate you alone, even in a right-to-work or at-will state. There needs to be a [valid] reason.
 
#25
Having been in management and involved in the closing down of divisions etc. I can state that most times the site managers had little or no clue as to a date or even if it was coming. Maybe an IT manager had an idea, maybe not. It would not be at all uncommon for an IT manager to get notice that they needed people on staff at 8:00 am to perform some immediate changes, notify the site manager that he need to be available at 8:00m for a mandatory conference call, etc.

I have seen the Locksmith company truck in the parking lot, an upper level manager type walking in the door with the locksmith, and watched in disbelief as the locksmith started to change the locks and heard the words, "Effective immediately....... thank you for your service".
 
#29
logicman69 said:
Though I do miss networking with other musicians... and the discounts. Its hard to go and pay $20 for an XLR cable when I know the cost is only $5.
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I had this same issue when St. Louis Music closed it's doors in 2003. I look at the prices on Ampeg stuff now and just shake my head. Miss those days.

Sorry to hear about your situation, OP. As others have already noted, though, many times it ends up working in your favor. Maybe the kickstart you need for bigger and better things.
 
#31
s0c9 said:
CAN'T - we have labor laws.. and unless some policy was violated.. there's a case for wrongful termination IME (no, I'm not an lawyer)
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Nah. It's a layoff. Happens all the time. They'll be able to get unemployment since no one was at fault, but you'll never get a wrongful termination suit off the ground. Despite everyone thinking CA is some liberal Union bastion, as a At-Will state, you can get cut for almost anything. As long as the company can show that the employee was personally targeted, you've got nothing.
 
#35
Commercial leases end last minute like this all the time...it happened last week to my freaking dry cleaner and I had to go get my clothes from a nearby location. Landlord demands higher rent, business says no, or even landlord wants a different type of business in to help increase rents overall, and business closes immediately. While there is a lot going on with GC and other brick and mortar stores, this may not, in of itself, be an indication of that downward trend.
 
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#36
BecDeCorbin said:
My local GC has pared their store inventory way way down over the last year and a half or so, I've been wondering if they were preparing to close.
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THE Guitar Center on Sunset has shrunk its inventory noticeably. Fewer amps, fewer brands, and less inventory on the walls. The one in Palmdale started carrying vinyl records for some reason.
They just need to figure out their model. Online and used sales are pounding them in the @$$ like it has electronics stores and book stores. Personally, its been years since I've bought anything from one of their stores. Not that I have anything against them, but my purchasing habits have become a little to niche for them. I have to order my strings online because of the custom gauges or specific brands. Their selection of bass amps has shrunk to Ampeg and Markbass. The pedals I've been buying aren't sold in stores. The used basses I buy are easier to find on Ebay, here, or Reverb. Technically I don't NEED Guitar Center any more. I actually buy more stuff at Sam Ash these days. But that doesn't mean I want to see them go belly up. Where would I spend my afternoons off when I feel like wanking on equipment I don't own?
 
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#37
Sorry to hear that, but yes, it sounds like a layoff situation, which doesn't leave much room for legal action. I have worked in tech for 20+ years so have seen MANY layoffs occur (only been laid off once though). Typically:
- no notice, not even to the local management
- often escorted to the door by management/security, need to make arrangements to come back and clean out your cubicle
- the amount of severance legally required should be part of your state? law (just guessing here, in Canada it is defined provincially). Typically something like two weeks notice (unless your contract or industry has other legal precedence that gives you more)

And yes, companies really do not care about their employees anymore. Just overpaid, sociopathic CEOs, kissing shareholders *sses. Sadly true in all industries.

Later
Rob
 
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#39
Slpbass81 said:
Where will everybody go to try the latest Squire,
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Squires aren't available for hire any more.

Squire.jpg
 
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#40
thebassguy86 said:
So, Guitar Center closed its very first store ever today in Terre Haute, IN. I worked three and a half years at this location. The news came fast - they told us at 8a.m. that today would be our last day of business.

They explained that it's due to the landlords not compromising with executives about rent. Our lease was up in January and they've been in delegation since then. Obviously nothing came of it, so they closed our doors with no sign of relocation in the foreseeable future.
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If the real cause is rent, GC may find another location in the area. If you liked your job, tell your managers and keep the line of communication open.

Sorry to hear it, best of luck. I love my local GC(s), they're all fully stocked and doing quite well.
 
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