GameStop, after backlash, closes retail doors due to COVID-19 concerns

GameStop, the videogame retailer, said Sunday that it would shift to online sales and curbside pick-up orders only and close its U.S.retail operations temporarily. 

The retailer had remained open at a time when most other non-essential retail stores had closed and had urged its employees to inform law enforcement of that, if questioned, according to gaming site Kotaku, which got ahold of a company memo. 

“Due to the products we carry that enable and enhance our customers’ experience in working from home, we believe GameStop is classified as essential retail and therefore is able to remain open during this time,” said the memo, per Kotaku.

Kotaku had interviewed GameStop employees who feared for their safety. 

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Now the company says curbside delivery will “allow the Company to continue to serve customers who have purchased online at GameStop.com and the GameStop app and have requested a product pick-up at their local store.”

GameStop CEO George Sherman said the firm had been following the Centers for Disease Control guidelines and had looked to serve them at a time when so many have been forced to remain at home. “We believe it is prudent to institute further safety protocols while meeting this increased demand through curbside pick-up.”

Sherman said  employees whose hours have been eliminated have been granted an additional two weeks at their regular pay rate based on the average hours worked in the last 10 weeks.