Is Lowe's Closing in Bedford?

Lowe's Home Improvement is shutting down 20 locations and abruptly closed down half of them on Sunday.

The store in Manchester closed over the weekend, and locations in Hooksett and Claremont are expected to close in the next month in order for the company to focus on more profitable locations, according to USA Today. Stores in and are not on the list of those stores being shut down.

Lowe's operated 1,725 stores prior to the closures, the other half of the closures are expected to happen this month.

Employees were suspicious of a possible closure and now describe the news as "heartbreaking," according to the Union Leader.

The company, based in Mooresville, N.C., will open fewer than 15 stores in North America, rather than the intended 30, according to published reports.

Find the full list of closures here.