Lowe's in Salem to Stay Open

Lowe's Home Improvement has announced it will shutter 20 locations across the country due to the economy, and the business abruptly closed half of those "under-performing" stores Sunday.

The Salem location, which is located at 541 South Broadway right on the border with Methuen, Mass., will not be affected, although New Hampshire is the only state with three stores on the chopping block.

The Manchester store has already closed, according to WMUR, while Hooksett and Claremont will be shuttered within a month. USA Today reported that the closure is because the company plans to use the resources to "focus on more profitable locations."

Lowe's operated 1,725 stores prior to the closures.

Employees were suspicious of a possible closure and now describe the news as "heartbreaking," according to the Union Leader, while others said they found out about the closures during emergency staff meetings Sunday, according to WMUR.

The company, based in Mooresville, N.C., had reportedly intended to open 30 new stores across North America, although various reports now state that Lowe's will open fewer than 15 of those locations.

One of the stores slated to close is in neighboring Haverhill, Mass., according to the USA Today report.