Record store shuts down

As expected, the Virgin Megastore at Triangle Square was no longer in

business Thursday.

Cardboard boxes, visible through locked glass doors, were stacked

inside the store. A note was posted on the shop’s entrances to inform

customers that it was no longer a place to buy entertainment.

The Virgin Entertainment Group announced in June that the store

would close Thursday. The initial announcement was that the store was

approaching the end of its lease at Triangle Square. Virgin

Entertainment Group representatives could not be reached for comment

Thursday.

In the months since Virgin’s announcement, the Closet, a clothing

store already in business at Triangle Square, has been mentioned as a

candidate to move in to Virgin Megastore’s retail space. Triangle

Square spokeswoman Vanessa Showalter said Thursday that mall

officials were still negotiating a possible deal that would allow the

Closet to occupy Virgin Megastore’s space.

Billy Stade, owner of the Closet, could not be contacted Thursday.

Virgin’s departure marks the second time a major retailer has left

Triangle Square this year. Niketown left the mall in January.

Not all news at the mall has been negative. A Kelly’s Coffee &

Fudge Factory franchise opened at Triangle Square this summer, and

the permit for Mexican restaurant Chronic Cantina was recently

approved by the Costa Mesa planning commission. Chronic Cantina could

open in December.

* ANDREW EDWARDS covers business and the environment. He can be

reached at (714) 966-4624 or by e-mail at

[email protected].