GameStop closes retail doors after backlash amid coronavirus concerns

Jefferson Graham | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Coronavirus closes many store giants including Apple, Macy's and Nike COVID-19 has caused numerous retail chains to close temporarily, including Apple, Macy's and Nike. Here is a look at some of the closures.

GameStop, the video game 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.

Retail: Target increases hourly pay, announces paid leave program for employees most vulnerable to coronavirus

Working: Retailers closing stores to protect from coronavirus spread

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 pickup at their local store."

GameStop CEO George Sherman said the firm had been following the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 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 pickup."

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.

So glad to hear that GameStop is finally temporarily closing all storefronts to customers w/ extra paid time off to employees. Thank you SO much to everyone who contacted the company and urged them to do this. https://t.co/naUTCY6g97 — Shannon Coulter (@shannoncoulter) March 22, 2020

Follow USA TODAY's Jefferson Graham on Twitter, @jeffersongraham