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High Hopes Breckin Goin, 4 and Jennifer Black, 18, center, pick-up some Best Buy coupons on the store's opening day in Medford. Bob Pennell / Mail Tribune Bob Pennell Saturday Aug 21, 2010 at 12:15 AM Aug 21, 2010 at 3:15 AM Southern Oregon's three-year retail losing streak ended Friday morning when Best Buy's doors swung open. By GREG STILES Southern Oregon's three-year retail losing streak ended Friday morning when Best Buy's doors swung open. The lengthy trend that saw the likes of Circuit City, Linens 'N Things and Hancock Fabric disappear was reversed in the same building where Joe's Sports, Outdoor and More went out of business 15 months ago. The last major retailer to arrive in the county with a hefty payroll was the Eagle Point Walmart Supercenter in August 2007. "The local economy has been negative, falling apart, collapsing and going bad," said Ken Mason as he watched the 200 or more shoppers lined up at the Poplar Square shopping center file past the Chamber Greeters into the 47,000-square-foot store. "This on the other hand is change for the better." Standing back with a couple of dozen other onlookers, the Medford resident surmised that many of the grand opening visitors were on a scouting mission. "First, they'll check it out to see what kind of savings they can find over the existing retailers," Mason said. "I think it will be good for Medford to have some competition in the electronics industry. It's a large retail store that can give Target and Walmart a run for their money. What happens after that will be the important thing. Will the prices be consistent with today or will they play retail games?" An opening means competition and jobs, said Robert Cranford of Trail. "That's a good sign. I've been to more than one going-out-of-business-sale recently." The customers pouring into the store were a welcome sight to Nick Lango, a Best Buy customer solutions manager who was at Circuit City when bankruptcy shuttered the Virginia-based chain. "You put your whole life into a business and all of a sudden it's gone, that leaves a big void," said Lango, who spent the intervening months assisting former employees with resumes. "Almost from the time Circuit City closed its doors, people have been waiting for Best Buy to get here as quickly as possible and fill the void." Rod Crawford of Jacksonville keeps a close eye on store comings and goings. Although he's happy to see Best Buy's arrival, he's not sure it will create long-term momentum for the local economy. "I've been unemployed for quite some time," Crawford said. "I don't see it creating a positive change for construction. The impact for the construction industry is minimal, because this is something planned way in the past coming to fruition." Central Point teens Kevin Pheley, Darin Denton and Michael Larson arrived at 8:30 Thursday evening and slept on the sidewalk in anticipation of Best Buy's opening. In addition to the $20 gift cards scores of early birds picked up, they were given "Geek Squad" shirts and an additional gift card, Larson said. "For being here the first and longest." Larson has made trips to Best Buy in Eugene, but took his time perusing the expansive offerings. "I want to check out the choices and make it worth my wait," Larson said. Just as the Rogue Valley Mall and Costco long have been regional draws for consumers from the Southern Oregon coast, Northern California and the Klamath Basin, Best Buy figures to draw electronics customers from the same areas. Chuck Caves of Klamath River, Calif., regularly makes the trip up Interstate 5 to Medford to do a variety of shopping. Even when Caves and his wife lived in Smith River, Calif., just south of Brookings, he made the inland trek up Highway 199. "We shop for everything in Medford," Caves said. "We used to go to G.I. Joe's so this is a place we know. All this should be good for business at Tin Tin," a Chinese buffet nearby. Best Buy dispatched staff from other stores as far away as Portland to help the 106 local employees with the Medford launch, said Chris Folgate, district customer solutions manager for Oregon, Washington and Alaska. He said zoning issues are keeping Ashland-built Brammo electric motorcycles from being sold on site. "We're looking for ways to line up test rides in Ashland," Folgate said. Whether Best Buy's arrival marks a new day for Southern Oregon retail still is to be determined. Another retail store is due to open the first part of October: Walgreens will open its second 15,000-square-foot Medford store at the intersection of West Main Street and Ross Lane. And Northwest Outdoor Store was opened by local managers of shuttered McKenzie Outfitters in late June in Medford's Bear Creek Plaza. "It's better if a store is opening," Mason said. "Because when it closes it means there's not enough business to support it." Reach reporter Greg Stiles at 541-776-4463 or e-mail [email protected].