KGMI News

SEATTLE (AP) — Sam’s Club, the warehouse-store unit of Walmart, is closing its three locations around Seattle.

The Seattle Times reports the company notified the Washington state Employment Security Department it will close stores in Seattle, Auburn and Renton effective March 16, and will affect 495 jobs.

The world’s largest private employer said it was closing 63 of its 660 Sam’s Clubs across the country over the next weeks.

A Walmart official told The Associated Press that about 10 of the 63 stores will be repurposed into e-commerce distribution sites.

The official said at least eight stores closed Thursday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss details of the decision publicly.

According to the employment security department, the local closures will impact 168 jobs in Auburn, 179 in Renton, and 148 in Seattle.