Microsoft permanently shutters physical stores, including in St. Louis area

Microsoft will permanently close its 83 physical Microsoft Store retail locations, the company said Friday. That includes the software company's single St. Louis-area location, on the second floor of the Saint Louis Galleria. The closures will cost approximately $450 million during the quarter ending June 30, which includes primarily asset write-offs and impairments. Microsoft said in a release it will continue to invest in and grow in digital storefronts on Microsoft.com, Xbox and Windows, both…