Sam Goody closing its doors in mall

Susan Vance takes the hour trip from Dewatto Bay to Silverdale every couple of weeks to visit her grandchildren.

One of her favorite places to go is Sam Goody in the Kitsap Mall, where she browses CDs for her family, as well as herself.

Vance will need to look for a new store, because Sam Goody is up for sale.

“I will miss going to the store. I like to look through things,” she said. “I buy mostly CDs. I don’t shop online, I’m very careful. Maybe it’s my age.”

Trans World Entertain-ment, which owns Sam Goody, announced in early November that it would close 125 stores nationally. The Albany, NY-based company’s sales decreased by 17 percent in the third quarter of this year compared to 2008, having cut its number of stores from 786 to 694 during that span.

In 2008, most Sam Goody’s changed their name to FYE. The FYE in Silverdale remains open.

Calls to corporate headquarters were unsuccessful, but window banners announced the outlet’s closure.

The store’s customers may have followed the recent trend toward buying music online through services like iTunes. T.J. Reitan, a junior at North Kitsap High School, said he doesn’t think the national reduction in CDs stores is having a large affect on the artists.

“I-pods and stuff are probably why it’s going out of business,” he said, referring to Sam Goody. “The musicians are still selling just as much, but it doesn’t seem like anybody has CDs anymore.”

Along with music, Sam Goody also sells DVDs, magazines and clothing items. Bremerton middle schooler Selena Tate said she comes to the store about once a week, but rarely buys music.

“I normally buy the T-shirts,” she said.

Port Orchard resident Jerry Foster has long enjoyed CD searching in music stores, but thinks programs such as Pandora, an internet music radio, and other online applications allow music lovers to expand their repertoire beyond anything the stores could offer.

“Online you get access to more music and it gives you a chance to listen and find new music you may not have listened to,” he said.

– Andy Jones

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