The Boston Globe from Boston, Massachusetts • B3

Boston Sunday Globe Metro B3 Best Buy closing Newbury Street, Wareham stores APRIL 15, 2012 struggling to compete with online retailers like Amazon.com. The company also said it plans to build more of its smaller Best Buy Mobile stores, standalone locations that offer cellular phones, plans, and accessories. floors, may be too large for many potential tenants. She cited the former Borders retail space, which is being divided into smaller parcels, as a possible model for Best Buy's soon-to-be-vacant digs. Even if a large retail tenant is found quickly, the permit and remodeling process means the storefront will almost certainly be empty for six months to a year, Mainzer-Cohen said.

For Best Buy, the closings come amid management turmoil. Last week, chief executive Brian Dunn resigned after coming under investigation by the company's board for personal conduct issues. The retailer has outlived onetime rivals like Circuit City, but is Dan Adams can be reached at DAdamsglobe.com and on Twitter at JONATHAN WIGGSGLOBE STAFF At the Best Buy on Newbury Street in Boston, staff turned away customers and gave them coupons to use at nearby locations. Locations among 50 the company will shut this year By Dan Adams GLOBE CORRESPONDENT Best Buy is closing its store on Newbury Street in Boston and one in Wareham, the electronics chain announced Saturday. The stores at 360 Newbury St.

and on Cranberry Highway in Wareham are among 50 that Best Buy plans to close this year as part of a "transformation strategy," the company said in a release. Both Massachusetts stores slated for closure were closed Saturday, but will reopen Sunday for final sales. The stores will close permanently May 12. "This was not an easy decision to make," Best Buy officials said in a written statement. "We chose these stores carefully, and are working to ensure the impact to our employees will be as minimal as possible.

but we also recognize the impact this news has on the people who deserve respect for the contributions they have made to our business." Best Buy said employees at both stores were notified Saturday morning about the closings, and that the company would offer employees a job at another location or "a transition including severance packages." At the Newbury Street Best Buy on Saturday afternoon, two employees stood outside the doors, turning away dozens of would-be customers and handing out coupons good for $10 off at nearby Best Buy locations. "It is what it is," said one of the employees, who confirmed that the staff only found out about the closure Saturday morning, but declined further comment. Some shoppers thought Best Buy picked a bad day to close, ESDI I SUMMER Li PliTERM2Q1 given the high foot traffic on marathon weekend in Boston. "It's a beautiful Saturday," said Aditya Naik, 26, who wanted to buy a case for his iPad. "It's a prime day for shopping, so it's a real loss for them.

I'm disappointed, but I'll find another store." A group of Berklee College of Music students standing nearby said the closure would be difficult, since they often used the store's small music section to pick up a pack of guitar strings or pair of drumsticks. One nearby music retailer, Daddy's Junky Music, recently closed; another, Jack's Drum Shop, moved to Cape Cod, leaving the Guitar Center in Fenway, a 15-minute walk, as the only full-service music store near Berklee. "A lot of the stuff we do is electronic," said 20-year-old Berklee student Moez Dawad, describing how students record and compose music on computers. "Best Buy was cool for last-minute stuff an adapter or a cord or whatever." Dawad said the closing was also a loss for students who performed at weekly live music showcases in the store. The store space, in a promi nent and architecturally significant building at the intersection with Massachusetts Avenue, has had several retailers come and go over the past decade.

Defunct compact disc chain Tower Records occupied the space until 2002, when a Virgin Megastore took over the space. The Virgin Megastore closed in 2006, giving way to Best Buy. "I think it's a shame," said Meg Mainzer-Cohen, president of the retailer group Back Bay Association. "They really fit in the neighborhood. But not all brands work in all locations." Mainzer-Cohen was quick to say that the closure was not a reflection of any downturn in the Back Bay, even though it comes soon after the closure of nearby big-box book retailer Borders on Boylston Street.

"When companies are going through turbulence, I don't think it necessarily reflects on the retail strength of the neighborhood," she said. She said that overall, sales from association retailers have climbed each year since 2008. Mainzer-Cohen said she is hopeful the storefront will be filled quickly, but cautioned that the space, which spans three Summer 1: May 22-June 29 Summer 2: July 2-August 10 Register today at bu.edusummer. Expand your horizons this summer at BU. More than 700 courses 70 academic subjects 17 foreign languages Academic programs for high school students Evening, day, online, and blended study Minuteman gives up deadly role Boston University Summer Term mid 50s, was the first cousin of Captain John Parker, who led the Minuteman on April 19, 1775.

According to legend, Jonas Parker had made clear his intention powder," Hart said. "I get wounded, get off a shot, and at that time one of the grenadiers is on top of me. As the British chase the Minutemen from the green, Hart's wife, Myra, and three grandchildren, Spencer Hart-Thompson, 10, Hailey Hart-Thompson, 12, and Lilly Hart 10, in the roles of Parker's wife and children, rush to the field. There, on Monday, Jim Hart will die as Parker one last time. Even as he prepares for his swan song in the role, Hart clearly still relishes it.

"It's exhilarating," Hart said. "It's Americana." lUM il'liM i L'A i In the reenactment, the British commander, Major John Pit-cairn, orders the Minutemen to lay down their arms and disperse. Some of the militiamen quiver, but Jonas Parker does not. "Disperse I tell you!" Pitcairn cries. "Disperse!" The British fix bayonets and begin to advance.

"Give way men!" Captain Parker shouts. "Quit the field!" A shot rings out. The rout is on. But not for Jonas Parker. "I advance, put down my hat, my musket, my musket balls, my David Filipov can be reached at dfilipovglobe.com.

Follow him, on Twitter davidfilipov. he2Bo0ton(15tobe Scholastic LEXINGTON Continuedfrom Page Bl thrusts through the years "by combining agility and skill with careful rehearsal," said fellow Lexington Minuteman Bill Poole. "He makes it so realistic that the crowd frequently gasps." But Hart says he depends on the skill of the Regular, who must stick the weapon between Hart's arm and his chest and plunge the blade convincingly without piercing the man himself. "To make sure that when I get bayoneted, I don't get bayoneted," Hart said. To make matters more complicated, a different Lobsterback vanquishes Hart each year.

He recalls one Regular reenactor who accidentally nicked him in the arm. "Since then, I purposefully ask for someone very mature." This year, the honor has befallen Michael Foley, 48, an IT consultant from Quincy who plays a private grenadier in His Majesty's 10th Regiment of Foot. In the first of three dress rehearsals for the battle, on April 1, Foley and Hart had difficulty finding each other. "Where's Foley?" Hart grumbled. "He has to get over here faster." But Foley said it was Hart who had lined up on the wrong side of the field.

"Once we fire our opening volley, it's going to be black smoke, you just can't see anything," Foley said. "We don't want to be running around looking for each other." In a subsequent practice run, Foley's bayonet came flying off his musket. "It requires enormous trust to play this role," Hart observed. "There's a low tolerance for error." This will be the 38th year on Lexington Battle Green for Hart, a descendant of a militiaman who was killed in a Revolutionary War engagement in Connecticut. The former owner of a marketing company, now retired, Hart was originally recruited for his talent on the fife and drum.

When the role of Parker came up about 22 years ago he does not remember the exact year he jumped at it. Parker "was a pretty independent guy," Hart said, not hiding his admiration for the doomed militiaman. "He was pretty cocky. And that led to his demise." Parker, a family man in his Art Writing Awards Substantial discounts and easy credit terms are now being provided in return for helping us create market awareness through product exposure in the community. Interlock Industries, Inc.

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