While Best Buy previously operated a successful network of approximately 250 standalone stores—primarily located in shopping malls—the company officially closed all of these smaller-format U.S. locations by May 2018. The decision was driven by "changing economics" in the mobile industry, specifically:
Instead of franchising or standalone mobile shops, Best Buy now integrates its mobile business into its existing large-format stores and digital platforms. Best Buy is closing all 250 of its mobile stores in the US
: A significant shift toward online shopping and decreased mall visits impacted these mall-based stores.
: As the smartphone market matured, the high profit margins seen during the early iPhone era began to compress. Current Business Model and Partnerships