Circuit City closes

NEW YORK - It's the end of the line for Circuit City, and with the chain's closing there will be more empty storefronts, including a big one on one of the most famous shopping strips in the world.

Circuit City had planned to close its more than 500 stores nationwide by the end of the month, but sales were so brisk, it had to move up the date. Some shoppers looking for a bargain at the store on 5th Avenue at 43rd Street in New York City found the stores bare of practically all merchandise, except store fixtures.

And with that location closing, Circuit City's next-door neighbor, Best Buy, was willing to pick up the slack. Many customers found the closing of a chain that's been in business since 1949 a sad sign of the times.

More than 34,000 employees will lose their jobs across the country, with nothing left but unemployment to fall back on. And one employee told us that most of his co-workers at the Broadway location near Lincoln Center have children to support.

"Fortunately, I live with my mom," said Circuit City employee Michael Funaro. "I'll help her out every now and then, so it's not like I don't have nowhere to go. Some people, they have kids, they rely on the job."

Bargain hunters scanned a board that showed just about all that was left: shopping baskets marked down to $1.50, carts and other fixtures - not what most came looking for.