If you’ve stopped by Bed Bath & Beyond in Rockville these past few months, you may have noticed that this once-dependable one-stop shop had far too many empty shelves — and probably not enough of whatever you came in for. The last couple of years have been rough for the 49-year-old retailer, which has struggled to compete with the ease of Amazon, the prices of HomeGoods and the breadth of assortment at Target. After months of speculation that bankruptcy might be imminent, this week Bed Bath & Beyond announced an alternative plan: It will cut 20 percent of its staff, shutter 150 of its weakest stores, and dump its underperforming private-label brands to bring back familiar names that customers know and love. All of which means that our Rockville store will likely survive for now — and if we’re lucky, those shelves will be restocked in time for the holidays.
