Jones Apparel Closing 166 Specialty Stores

Retailer Jones Apparel announced 166 specialty stores will be closed this year resulting in an unspecified number of job losses.

A company official said  about 100 retail locations have already been closed and that most of the closures will come at its specialty stores based in malls so that it can better concentrate on its outlet stores. Jones Apparel currently has 317 specialty retail stores in the United States.

“Our retail improvement plan is showing positive results. We have already closed approximately 100 retail locations, with an additional 165 locations to close in 2010,” said Jones Apparel CEO Wesley Card in a statement.

Overall, Jones Apparel has 938 retail stores including outlets.