Bose to Shutter U.S. Stores

Bose plans to close all 119 of its retail stores in North America, Europe, Japan and Australia in the coming months, citing the “dramatic shift to online shopping” in specific markets as the reason behind the store closings, according to a statement obtained by The Verge. 

Bose stores will remain open in other parts of the world. Approximately 130 stores located in Greater China and the United Arab Emirates will stay open, as well as stores in India, Southeast Asia, and South Korea.

"Originally, our retail stores gave people a way to experience, test, and talk to us about multicomponent, CD- and DVD-based home entertainment systems," said Colette Burke, Bose's vice president of global sales, in a statement published by The Verge. "At the time, it was a radical idea, but we focused on what our customers needed, and where they needed it — and we're doing the same thing now. It's still difficult, because the decision impacts some of our amazing store teams who make us proud every day.”

Bose opened its first U.S. store in 1993. In addition to its own stores and website, Bose products are available at retailers including Best Buy.