Kohl’s said Friday it was closing 27 underperforming stores in 15 states by April and a large distribution hub in San Bernardino, where nearly 700 people will lose their jobs.

Ten of the store closures are in California.

The company noted on Thursday that the San Bernardino e-commerce fulfillment center, or EFC, has been in operation since 2010, one of 15 such centers in Kohl’s supply chain nationwide.

“In recent years, Kohl’s has increased efficiencies with new technology capabilities at newer EFC facilities and has expanded the company’s ability to fulfill customer orders from store locations, allowing the company to maintain its ability to fulfill orders without the San Bernardino facility,” Kohl’s said in a news release dated Thursday.

In a letter dated Wednesday notifying California of the pending closure, Bethany Keller, Kohl’s senior vice president for Human Resources, told the Employment Development Department that most employees’ last day of employment will be March 28.

“It is possible that one or more employees will remain actively employed for a limited time after the facility is closed to assist with administrative tasks related to its closure. Of those employees who remain with the company to assist with administrative tasks related to closure, all will be separated by May 30, 2025,” Keller wrote.

The bulk of the jobs, some 592 positions, are for material handlers inside the fulfillment center, the letter to EDD notes. Another 83 jobs include supervisors, technicians and workplace administrators.

The announcement comes after the Wisconsin-based chain posted 11 consecutive quarters of sales declines and faces new leadership. Michaels CEO and retail veteran Ashley Buchanan will take over the chain’s top job, effective Wednesday, succeeding Tom Kingsbury, who will stay as an adviser to the new CEO and retain his position on Kohl’s board until his retirement in May.

Kingsbury served as Kohl’s interim CEO in December 2022 and was named its permanent leader in February 2023.

The store closures affect just a fraction of its 1,150 store base. Kohl’s declined to disclose the number of store employees affected. The company said store workers have been informed and have been offered a “competitive severance package” or the chance to apply to other open roles at Kohl’s.

The list of Kohl’s closures in California include a store in Westchester (8739 S. Sepulveda Blvd.), two in San Diego County, and the others to the north.

Macy’s closures

On Thursday, Macy’s disclosed the locations of 66 stores it will be closing early this year, including nine in California.

The California stores include the retailer’s Westminster Mall location, another in downtown Los Angeles (750 W. 7th St.), two in San Diego County and five others in Sacramento and the Bay Area.

The majority of the stores will close in the first fiscal quarter, Macy’s said.

The announcement is part of a strategy announced in February 2024, that calls for shuttering roughly 150 under-performing stores while upgrading its remaining 350 stores through fiscal 2026. The closings come as Macy’s is looking to improve its sales as shoppers have pulled back on discretionary items amid still high inflation.

In November, Macy’s reported falling profit and sales in its fiscal third quarter. It raised sales expectations for the current fiscal year, but lowered profit projections.

The Macy’s stores set to close account for 25% of overall square footage but less than 10% of its sales, the company had said.

Associated Press writer Anne D’Innocenzio and staff writer Samantha Gowen contributed to this report.