Dressbarn Closing Howell Commons Store

HOWELL, NJ — Dressbarn announced this week that it is shutting down and closing all 650 of its stores across the country.

That includes the Howell store in Howell Commons, which is home to TJ Maxx, Michaels, Famous Footwear and a number of stores and restaurants.

Dressbarn employs about 6,800 people and has not disclosed when stores will begin shutting down. Parent company ascena retail group, Inc. announced the "wind down" of operations on Monday.

"All Dressbarn stores are open and conducting business as usual, as is Dressbarn's ecommerce site," the company said Monday. "Customers can continue to shop at Dressbarn in-store and online and use Dressbarn-branded credit cards for purchases. There are no current changes to Dressbarn's return, refund, or gift card policies."

CFO Steven Taylor called the Dressbarn decision "difficult but necessary" and said employees will be notified when decisions are made about individual store closures and given "transition support."

Dressbarn also said it will continue paying its vendors and suppliers in full for products and services provided during the wind-down process.

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