A friend of mine drew a comparison between the recently-defunct D.C. beer heaven known as the Brickskeller, and former retail music heavyweight-turned-pretender Tower Records.  Or even the apocryphal Planet Music of 15 or so years ago, assuming that place wasn't a figment of my imagination.  What all these businesses have in common is that their success depended on the limited access of their clientele.  Big time record stores took a huge hit when music went digital.  Brickskeller has become less and less relevant over the years as obscure imports and microbrews have enjoyed easier and more widespread distribution.  The experience at the Brick in its final days wasn't what it used to be, back when it was the only place you could get a Macedonian ale with a side of pierogies.

In a sense, these businesses helped usher in their own demise, by making their niche products popular enough that mass distribution could be possible, while failing to expand accordingly.  (To the  Brick's credit, the ownership has invested in other similar bars, which appear to be doing very well, and as I understand it their closing was not entirely of their own doing.)  Regardless, I can't help but think of CompUSA and Circuit City every time I consider Best Buy stock.  $BBY has always traded in a weird cycle, and has stuck around like a post-apocalyptic cockroach.  Apparently they did not get the memo that you can buy everything in their store for at least 10% cheaper online -- and I don't mean at bestbuy.com --  and if you want to see it in person, you can get it for 9% cheaper at Costco ($COST).  Yet somehow they maintain decent margins, if receding revenue growth, and remain viable.  They are even opening new stores.  Whereas the CompUSA near me is now a $BIG Lots (a sign of the times), $BBY's and their $3,000 TVs are popping up everywhere else.

This is a lot of bluster for a 2-week long coverage that sounds like a short.  I am predicting a short term buying spree in BBY going into the new year, and then recommending getting out as it approaches 40, and then getting back in again in the low 30's for another ride through Q2-Q3 of next year.  Such is the cycle of BBY, which I believe has proven its mettle as an online stalwart that runs a good brick-and-mortar shop as well.