RADIO SHACK CONFIRMED CLOSING IN DOWNTOWN BETHESDA (PHOTOS)

The downtown Bethesda Radio Shack is apparently ahead of the corporate headquarters. Yesterday, I reported that the head office had listed the 8125 Wisconsin Avenue store as one it was planning to "potentially" close under its Chapter 11 reorganization.

But yesterday, the store itself announced it is indeed closing, and is selling off inventory at 30-50% off. Which is somewhat confusing, as even 50% off doesn't qualify as "everything must go" panic pricing in my book. Remember, the corporate announcement claimed closing stores would have to sell off their remaining inventory, not transfer it to other Radio Shack stores. Now maybe the prices will drop as the final day approaches, but 50% is not exactly a liquidation sale for a cheapskate bargain hunter like me.

Still, you might find some good deals that will at least beat competing chains by a mile.

WHICH BETHESDA RADIO SHACK STORE IS ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK TO CLOSE?

The bankruptcy filing of Radio Shack has coincided with an agreement the struggling company reached with General Wireless, which will acquire up to 2400 of the electronics retailer's stores. According to a Radio Shack press release, Sprint will operate a "store within a store" inside up to 1750 of the stores GW takes over.

But what about the rest of Radio Shack's 4000 company-owned bricks-and-mortar outlets, including the three in Bethesda?

The company says only one Bethesda store is on the chopping block at the moment, and that is the downtown Bethesda Radio Shack at 8125 Wisconsin Avenue. I won't blame you if you didn't even know we had a Radio Shack in downtown Bethesda, because it is in a terrible, tucked-away location in terms of visibility. 

Radio Shack's other Bethesda locations are in the Westwood Shopping Center on Westbard Avenue, and in Westfield Montgomery Mall.

Radio Shack says the downtown Bethesda location is one of the 1600 stores it will "potentially" close, but they are not saying when. What they have confirmed is that stores closing will have to sell off their remaining inventory.