Daily Press article- hhgregg moving into old Circuit City building inNewport News

Circuit City
Originally uploaded by Ryanrules95

By Veronica Chufo

247-4741

11:41 p.m. EST, November 19, 2009

NEWPORT NEWS — The old Circuit City building will house electronics and appliances retailer hhgregg next spring.

Indianapolis-based hhgregg leased the 32,653-square-foot former Circuit City space in Yoder Plaza on Jefferson Avenue, as well as a 37,500-square-foot former Linens 'n Things building in Virginia Beach. The hhgregg stores typically employ 40 to 50 people.

David M. Smith, of Thalhimer, a commercial real estate firm, handled negotiations and announced the leases Thursday. That will bring a new electronics and appliances retailer to Hampton Roads.

With the two Richmond locations that opened Thursday, the company operates 128 stores in 11 states, said Jeff Pearson, hhgregg's vice president of marketing.

At a time when other retailers are going bankrupt or scaling back, hhgregg is expanding.

"Right now there's a good opportunity with real estate locations that are available that will fit an hhgregg location," such as former Circuit City and Linens 'n Things locations, Pearson said.

"At the same time, there's also a number of individuals that are seeking employment, so you're able to find the talent in the field that you need to operate an efficient and well-run retail establishment."

Plus, he said, customers are looking for the type of service that hhgregg provides. The company offers lots of training to its commission sales staff, so they're able to explain to customers the difference between products and the latest technological advances in electronics and appliances, Pearson said.

"Our tagline is 'Price and advice. Guaranteed,'" he said. "We feel that's a model consumers are looking for."

The hhgregg stores claim to have more appliances on display than any other retailer. They also have a wall display of more than 100 large-screen TVs. Stores also carry an array of cameras, camcorders, computers and home audio equipment.

Services offered include delivery and installation, Pearson said.

The company's name comes from its founder, H.H. Gregg, who opened the first location in Indianapolis in 1955.
Copyright © 2009, Newport News, Va., Daily Press

This is good to know, I'd hate to see the building sit and rot away. The photo above was taken by me in August 2008