Sony to close its only US PlayStation retail store
As Microsoft ramps up its own retail efforts, Sony will be closing its flagship PlayStation store in the Metreon Mall in San Francisco, California.
It may seem hard to believe, but the 5,500 square foot store has been open for nearly ten years, a substantial chunk of the life of many PlayStation fans. Sony representatives said the lease to the store expires on June 16, and it will not be renewed.
Sony opened the Metreon in 1999 with a principal concept of entertainment and retail fusion, or the "not-quite-a-mall" design. In addition to shopping and dining establishments, the four-story mall included such attractions as an IMAX theater and video arcade.
After Sony sold Metreon to Westfield in 2005, a design overhaul was imminent. The San Francisco Examiner reported last November that a large-scale remodeling effort would involve turning the majority of the space into outward-facing restaurants. The fourth floor has reportedly been leased by Tavern on the Green.
