Trans World Entertainment, the operator of FYE and Suncoast stores, is suffering a down year after having apparently turned around the company just a few years ago (see "Video Chain to Open New Stores").  Its Q3 results, released last week, showed a $4.5 million loss, back up to the levels of its losses back in 2011.  The company’s year-to-date loss was $10 million.

Same store sales were down 1.8%, and over-all sales were down 9.2% behind store closings.  The company ended the quarter with 327 stores, down from 360 a year ago and from 440 three years ago. 

Although sales in most categories were down, “trend” same store sales were up 22%.  Packaged media sales were all down.  The biggest decline was music, which was down 10%; video sales were down 3%; video games were down 10%.  Electronics was the only other up category (up 4%). 

TWE is testing a new concept store in Woodbridge Mall, New Jersey with a bigger presence for growth categories. 

A new CEO, Michael Feurer, took over top management at TWE about a month ago.  Feurer most recently ran the Vanity clothing chain (170 stores), and had a number of senior management roles with apparel retailer Coldwater Creek over the previous decade.