The Discovery Channel announced Thursday it will close all 103 of its retail stores.
The company said it plans to focus on growing its e-commerce platform and on licensing opportunities with other retailers, such as its successful relationship with Toys “R” Us and its “Animal Planet” merchandise.
There are four Discovery Channel stores in Colorado – at Park Meadows in Lone Tree, FlatIron Crossing in Broomfield, Cherry Creek Shopping Center in Denver and The Citadel in Colorado Springs.
“By eliminating our owned and operated brick-and-mortar storefronts, which are cost- intensive and complicated businesses, Discovery can focus its efforts on high-growth e- commerce and licensing operations,” David Zaslav, president and chief executive of Discovery Communications, said in a statement.
The stores will be shuttered by Sept. 1. The chain’s liquidation will affect about 1,000 employees.
The Discovery Channel Stores are owned by Silver Spring, Md.-based Discovery Communications, which is partly owned by Englewood-based Discovery Holding Co. Discovery Holding is chaired by Liberty Media chief executive John Malone.
Staff writer Julie Dunn can be reached at 303-954-1592 or jdunn@denverpost.com.
