Lights go down on Circuit City stores

By Lisa Von Ahn

NORTH BERGEN, N.J., March 8 (Reuters) - More than 30 shoppers were lined up in front of a Circuit City store here before it opened at 11 a.m. But most of the showroom was empty, with only a few shelves of merchandise remaining.

Circuit City's going-out-of-business sales that began Jan. 17 were expected to last up to eight weeks. But last week, liquidators said the process would be completed early, closing the doors of the once-vaunted consumer electronics chain's more than 500 stores for the last time on Sunday.

In November, Circuit City Stores Inc (CCTYQ.PK) became the highest-profile retailer to file for bankruptcy during this recession. The Richmond, Virginia company announced plans to liquidate after failing to find a buyer.

Some of the company's 567 stores had already closed, according to a statement from Great American Group, one of the liquidators.

Dennis Patel, who said he was the first employee hired at the North Bergen store when it opened nine years ago, watched as customers hovered over the paltry selection.

"It's a sad thing for us employees," he said, attributing the chain's failure to the economy and competition.

Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N), which has a store less than 2 miles away in Secaucus, New Jersey, has been adding more electronics to its shelves over the past few years, which has added pressure to a market that includes Best Buy Co Inc (BBY.N) and others.

Omaida Camacho of Fairview, New Jersey, said she came to Circuit City mark her 25-year-old son's last day on the job.

"I feel it deep inside," she said. "I see people going for the low prices, but they are not thinking of the people who are losing their jobs." (Reporting by Lisa Von Ahn; Editing by Derek Caney)