Ritz Camera to Close in October

Ritz Camera on King Street is closing, a casualty of the parent company filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June.

The move comes as brick-and-mortar consumer-electronics stores face hotter competition from online rivals and more people rely on smart phones to take pictures instead of buying cameras and other equipment, according to The Washington Post.

The restructuring includes the camera store closing 128 locations and cut its staff of 2,000 in half. Four locations in Virginia, including Old Town Alexandria, are going dark.

The Old Town location at 600 King St. expects to operate through mid-October.