Gamestop Quietly Closed Illinois & Missouri Locations Recently

There was big chatter a few years ago about how Gamestop was planning to close hundreds of stores, but then that discussion stopped being a news item. However, I've learned that the company has rather quietly closed several Illinois and Missouri locations recently with little fanfare.

I got curious about how Gamestop was doing after they recently shut down the magazine they own, Game Informer, with no notice just a couple weeks ago. I found a list of stores that Gamestop has closed already this year and it includes 4 Illinois stores and 2 in Missouri.

• Store # 6778 - Harrisburg, IL - 718 Rollie Moore Dr.
• Store #7629 - Jacksonville, IL - Lincoln Square, 1939 W. Morton Ave.
• Store #4213 - Lincolnwood, IL - Lincolnwood Town Ctr, 3333 W. Touhy Rd. #H14
• Store#2235 - Waukegan, IL - Waukegan Plaza, 1515 N. Lewis Ave.

Here are the Missouri stores that Gamestop has now shuttered recently:

• Store #3806 - Columbia, MO - Grindstone Plaza, 1205 Grindstone Pkwy.
• Store #753 - Sunset Hills, MO - Sunset Hills S.C., 10757 Sunset Plaza

I'm not the only one to notice. Someone on the Gamestop sub-Reddit noted a number of stores near them are shutting their doors.

I can't confirm this, but The Street shared an article claiming that all Gamestop stores were planned to close in the near future. I really hope that's not true.

Investor Place says that Gamestop stock is in trouble due to the new ways that people are buying video games meaning that more customers now choose to do that online and download them directly.

I am personally very thankful for Gamestop. The fact that they make used games available helps me keep my kids entertained without spending an arm and a leg, plus they can trade them back in when they're done with them. Surely that model will help them stay afloat.

I will also admit that I have a personal connection to this franchise as I worked part-time in the Quincy, Illinois store about 17 years ago and still have a manager I'm good friends with.

There's a bit of nostalgia being able to walk into a Gamestop store with your kids and look over the shelves. When/if the world shifts over to a download only means of buying video games, it will be society's loss. Let's hope the Missouri and Illinois Gamestop stores that remain can make a go of it.