Microsoft closes almost all retail stores, including Destiny USA location

Tech giant Microsoft said Friday that it will permanently close almost all of its physical stores, including its location in Destiny USA in Syracuse.

Only four physical stores will remain, according to the company. They include locations in London, New York, Sydney, Australia and on the company’s campus in Redmond, Washington.

The company said retail employees will continue to work with customers online and in stores that remain open. It is unclear if there will be layoffs, according to CNBC.

The company said it will continue to invest in its online storefronts.

“Our sales have grown online as our product portfolio has evolved into largely digital offerings, and our talented team has proven successful in serving customers beyond any physical location,” said Microsoft Corporate Vice President David Porter, in a press release. “We thank our Microsoft Store customers and look forward to continuing to serve them online and with our retail sales team at Microsoft corporate offices.”

Microsoft has more than 100 stores in total, primarily in the U.S., according to tech news site The Verge.

The Destiny store opened in 2014 on the second level of the Lord & Taylor wing of the mall, near the central atrium. At the time, it was the seventh Microsoft store in New York.

It is unclear how much Microsoft’s decision has to do with the current coronavirus pandemic. All of the company’s stores have been closed since March due to the virus.

Retail employees have been working with clients virtually since the shutdown, Microsoft said. The workers helped train thousands of business and educational customers in remote learning and work software and helped with support calls.

Fate itself remains largely closed. New York ordered the closure of all nonessential companies, including shopping malls, in March to help curb the spread of the pandemic.

It is unclear when the shopping malls will return in their entirety. Some stores and restaurants offer sidewalk pickup and those with their own outside entrances have been able to reopen.

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