Conn's to reopen closed stores in La., Texas

Conn's Inc., which operates a chain of home appliance stores, said Tuesday most of the stores it closed in Louisiana and Texas due to Hurricane Gustav will reopen today.

The storm hit the shores of Louisiana west of New Orleans Monday morning as a Category 2 hurricane.

Conn's said it closed its six stores in Louisiana and shut four stores in southeast Texas on Saturday to prepare for the storm. Conn's also was able to relocate its corporate headquarters' personnel to Houston and Dallas before the storm hit.

The company said it will reopen any stores that can not be opened today "as soon as conditions are safe for a return."

Despite the store closures, the company said it expects slightly positive same-store sales, or sales at stores open at least a year, for August.

Same-store sales is a key indicator of retailer performance since it measures growth at existing locations rather than newly-opened ones.