Gateway closes a half-dozen Country stores

PC maker Gateway has closed six under-performing stores and opened three new locations.

On Aug. 10, Gateway closed the half-dozen Country stores as part of a "store-by-store analysis that occurs on a regular basis," Gateway spokeswoman Cory Baker confirmed Thursday. At the same time, she added, the company opened three stores and may open more in the next 12 months.

With the changes, the San Diego-based company now has 296 stores in the United States where consumers can purchase PCs, accessories, training and services.

The company shuttered stores in Cambridge, Mass.; Nanuet, N.Y.; San Mateo, Calif.; Northridge, Calif.; Norridge, Ill.; and Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Gateway has opened stores in Bakersfield, Calif.; Green Bay, Wis.; and Champaign, Ill.

In late March, Gateway closed about 10 percent of its U.S. stores and put plans to open new stores on hold. Earlier this month, the company said it was not planning any more mass closures of its stores in the United States.

In an interview last week, Gateway Chief Executive Ted Waitt emphasized the importance of the retail outlets. "The stores are a huge part of what we're hoping to deliver--local service, local training," Waitt said.

The company, which has also closed some overseas stores, may shutter more of its 56 remaining international shops if it decides to pull back or exit some overseas markets, Gateway spokeswoman Donna Kather said.

News.com's Ian Fried contributed to this report.