The GameStop store located at 279 E. Fairmount Ave, is set to permanently close Sunday. Store management stated that the decision to close the store was because of the rising cost of rent and the rising cost of conducting business. Submitted photo.

LAKEWOOD – It’s game over for the GameStop store in Lakewood.

The GameStop located at 279 E. Fairmount Ave., Lakewood, in the TJ Maxx plaza, is set to shutter its doors for good Sunday at 6 p.m.

The store had been located in the Chautauqua Mall before relocating to the plaza across the street.

While the unexpected news hit the four store employees hard, some of them reported a light at the end of a tunnel.

“We’re all really good friends, and we’ll stay friends and connect after Sunday,” said Sam Shetland, a GameStop employee. “Plus, the company did offer us positions at other stores. But they’re too far away (in Olean and Erie, Pa.) At least they tried.”

However, Howard also pointed out that there are other GameStops in the area and that gamers have the option of ordering games online at the company’s website gamestop.com. As positive as some of the GameStop employees are regarding the upcoming store closure, some regional video gamers who are not as forgiving.

“What? Really? Great. …Now what am I supposed to do about getting my used games,” said Rodney Dale, 16 of Jamestown. “Everyone says we can’t have anything good here (in Jamestown), but you might as well say that about Lakewood too.”

However, locally other video game sellers are ready and willing to fill in the void.

“We will have no issue meeting customers’ needs,” said Ernie Laemmerhirt, the owner of Gamers Haven, located at 707 Fairmount Ave, West Ellicott. “We do most of our sales online anyways – about three-quarters of it.”