HHGregg store in Vernon Hills to close

HHGregg Inc., an appliance and electronics store based in Indianapolis, said it would close five Wisconsin stores and one in Vernon Hills. It debuted in the Chicago and suburban market in 2011. COURTESY OF HHGREGG INC.

HHGregg Inc., an appliance and electronics store based in Indianapolis, said it would close five Wisconsin stores and one in Vernon Hills. It debuted in the Chicago and suburban market in 2011. COURTESY OF HHGREGG INC.

HHGregg Inc., an appliance and electronics retailer based in Indianapolis, will close its Vernon Hills store along with five others in Wisconsin by mid-October.

The store closings are part of an overall company restructuring, said spokeswoman Sarah Davis.

She added that the company plans to continue to operate about 200 stores nationwide.

"These closings, along with the recent announcement of restructuring our distribution network, allow us to continue driving the company toward profitability and growth with our launch of 25-30 new Fine Lines specialty store openings over the next two years," said Davis.

HHGregg said last month that it plans to open about 30 new Fine Lines stores featuring luxury appliances with brand names that include Thermador, JennAir, KitchenAid, Bosch and Miele. The company already has 14 such stores and plans adding three more in Indianapolis, Indiana; Columbus, Ohio; and Cincinnati, Ohio. There aren't any in Illinois.

HHGregg debuted in the Chicago and suburban market in February 2011, with plans to hire 900 workers and open 20 new stores. Most of the stores settled into buildings that were abandoned by bankrupt retailers Circuit City, Wickes Furniture and Linens and Things.

The Vernon Hills store, in Townline Commons, 555 E. Townline Road, was one of a half-dozen new stores in the strip mall that received tax incentives in 2012.

The company, founded in 1955, carries TVs, washers, dryers, mobile phones, tables, PCs and other products.

HHGregg will have a closing sale at the Vernon Hills store. Affected employees will have the chance to apply for positions at remaining stores, including Arlington Heights, Gurnee, Schaumburg, Bloomingdale, Downers Grove and Naperville. The number of affected employees was not provided.

HHGregg will continue to honor all warranties, Davis said.