Rich Tauberman, a company spokesman, says the stores slated for closure, including the 12 in New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, were deemed to be underperforming. He says the company in an effort to reduce costs conducted an extensive store-by-store review before making its selections.

He says the company will likely conduct store closing sales in the near future. While no specific store closing dates have been established, Tauberman says the company will engage "in an orderly wind down" of the various stores in the next few months.

The company plans to close seven stores in New York State including three Upstate at the Crossing in Clifton Park, 37,500 sf; the Northway Mall, 37,500 sf in Colonie and a 28,000-sf location at Riverside Center in Utica. Two stores in Westchester County are to close: the 44,000-sf store at Cortland Town Center in Mohegan Lake and the 57,000-sf store at the Midway Shopping Center in Scarsdale. The remaining New York closures are: the 44,000-sf store at Woodbury Town Center in Harriman, Orange County, and the 40,000-sf store at the Manhasset Center on Long Island.

There are three stores to close in the Garden State: the 28,000-sf store at Howell Commons in Howell; the 33,000-sf location at the Wrangleboro Square in May Landing and the 40,000-sf store at Woodbridge Crossing in Woodbridge. Two Connecticut stores will close in the next few months--the 34,000-sf store at 1600 Southeast Rd. in Farmington and the 33,000-sf store at Libson Landing in Libson.

As of Dec. 29, 2007, the firm operated 589 stores in 47 states and seven provinces across the US and Canada. When the store closings are complete, the chain will still have a portfolio of 10 stores in Connecticut, 20 stores in New Jersey and 23 stores in New York State, based on information on the company's website.