A.J. Wright Closing its Doors Next Year

Waltham's discount store is scheduled to close early next year, leaving a gaping hole in the River Street shopping center.

The store will close by late January or mid-February, according to a company press release. The store's employees will be paid through the holidays, according to the company.  The move is part a larger company restructuring, which includes closing more than 100 stores.

Framingham-based TJX Company, which owns the discount chain, cited several reasons for its decision, including focusing on its stronger brands.

"While I believe this move makes us a much stronger company and will benefit TJX in both the near-term and long-term, it was not an easy decision as many positions will be eliminated and it will be difficult for our affected Associates," TJX President and CEO Carol Meyerowitz said in a statement.

"A critical factor in this decision is that, over the past two years, we have learned how to serve the A.J. Wright customer with our T.J. Maxx and Marshalls banners and have seen very strong performance from these stores in demographic markets similar to those in which we have A.J. Wright stores," she said.

The city is not losing a lot in the store's closing, at least in the eyes of Executive Director John Peacock.

"I've always been surprised they have done as well as they have," he said.

As for the site's future, that's anybody's guess.

"It is hard to say," Peacock said when asked what might, if anything, relocate into that space, once it is empty. "Retail away from [a] mall is difficult."

He did mention a particular store he would like to see.

"I think this town could use a Kohl's," he said, referring to the discount chain.

TJX also plans to close 70 additional stores nationwide, including its Medford and Malden locations, according to the company.  It also plans to convert the remaining 91 locations into T.J. Maxx, Marshalls or HomeGoods stores, according to the company. 4,400 employees will lose their jobs nationwide.