CompUSA will amp up holiday shopping specials at its stores in Hawai'i and on the Mainland after the troubled computer and electronics retailer was sold to a firm for liquidation.

Dallas-based CompUSA, whose 103 stores include two outlets in Hawai'i, was acquired by an affiliate of Gordon Brothers Group LLC, a Boston-based advisory and restructuring firm that plans to close or sell CompUSA's stores after the holiday season.

CompUSA said all stores will remain open and staffed during the holiday season and will offer consumers "attractive bargains" on merchandise as part of store closing sales.

The planned wind-down will likely create an opportunity for one or two big-box retailers to expand or enter Hawai'i using CompUSA's space, a 40,000-square-foot store on Ala Moana in Kaka'ako and 45,000 square feet at Pearl Highlands Center in Pearl City.

CompUSA's plan follows financial difficulties for the chain, which earlier this year closed 126 stores and attempted to restructure operations with management changes and a $440 million cash infusion.

The company in May also announced a new strategy to divert its focus from mainstream consumers more toward businesses and tech enthusiasts as well as educated professionals more apt to purchase high-end business products for home use.

The turnaround effort, however, was abandoned in favor of selling the company's assets to Gordon Brothers for an undisclosed price.

"An orderly and expedited wind-down and asset sale process is the best option for CompUSA and its creditors at this juncture," Bill Weinstein, a Gordon Brothers principal acting as interim CompUSA president, said in a statement. "We are focused on assuring that CompUSA's creditors, landlords and other key constituents are treated properly during this process."

Gordon Brothers said discussions are ongoing to sell some stores in key markets with an option to retain the CompUSA brand name.

Alex Stanton, a CompUSA spokes-man, said the company is not commenting on which stores might be sold. But in any case, merchandise will be discounted more than normal at all stores in preparation for closing as early as the first week of January. "There will be some good bargains on computer and electronic equipment in order to clear the inventory," he said.

CompUSA once described itself as the nation's largest chain of computer stores, but in recent years had been forced to downsize in the face of competition from bigger chains, including Best Buy, Circuit City and Wal-Mart — all of which operate in Hawai'i.

Founded in 1984 as Soft Warehouse, the company initially sold direct to business customers, and it opened its first retail store a year later. After evolving into a computer superstore, the business changed its name to Comp-USA in 1991.

The chain grew to more than 100 stores, became a publicly traded company and in 1998 acquired rival Computer City.

In 2000, Mexican retailer Grupo Sanborns SA, headed by billionaire Carlos Slim, acquired CompUSA and its roughly 200 stores. The company's last major growth was engineered in late 2003 with the acquisition of Good Guys, a premium home entertainment and electronics retailer in an attempt to broaden CompUSA's higher-end merchandise selection.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com.