Ritz Camera Centers Inc. began liquidating its eight retail stores in Los Angeles County on Saturday, part of the closure of more than 300 stores nationwide in a court-supervised bankruptcy reorganization.

The downsizing, which also includes the Beltsville, Maryland chain’s stores in Orange and Ventura counties, will leave the nation’s largest specialty retailer of cameras and accessories with 400 stores across the country, it said Friday. The company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in February.

Locations to close locally include Beverly Hills, Pasadena, Long Beach and Studio City.

Ritz Camera is the latest national retailer to contract significantly or close during the recession. Major retailers that have liquidated in recent months include Circuit City, Mervyns, Steve & Barry’s, Shoe Pavilion, KB Toys and Linens ‘N Things.