Matawan Dressbarn Closing As National Retailer Folds

MATAWAN, NJ — Sad news if you enjoy shopping at Dressbarn: The national retailer announced Monday, May 20 that it is closing all 650 stores across the nation. There are 28 Dressbarn locations in New Jersey, and all of them will close.

Dressbarn's parent company, Ascena retail group, Inc. announced the "wind down" of operations on Monday. They did not give a date for when the stores will close.

The Matawan Dressbarn is located off Hwy. 34. It is the only Dressbarn in the area. There are others in Howell, Jackson and Toms River.

Dressbarn has been in operation for 60 years. Ascena also owns Ann Taylor and Lane Bryant. The company's chief financial officer Steven Taylor, said Dressbarn has not been operating at an "acceptable level of profitability in today's retail environment," and Ascena would like to focus more on Ann Taylor and Lane Bryant, which it says are more profitable, according to CBS News.

"All Dressbarn stores are open and conducting business as usual, as is Dressbarn's e-commerce site," the company said in a press release 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."

"Ascena really never invested in Dressbarn and let it stagnate to the point where it has become completely out of touch with the needs of modern shoppers," commented GlobalData Retail analyst Neil Saunders, according to CBS. "Even the name now feels old fashioned and dull."

Here are all the Dressbarn stores in New Jersey; they all will be closing:

• ATLANTIC CITY
• BRIDGEWATER
• CLARK
• CLIFTON
• EAST WINDSOR
• EDGEWATER
• FLEMINGTON
• FLORHAM PARK
• HACKENSACK
• HAMILTON
• HOWELL
• JACKSON
• KEARNY
• MATAWAN
• MAYS LANDING
• MOUNT LAUREL
• PARAMUS
• PARSIPPANY
• RAMSEY
• ROCKAWAY
• SOUTH PLAINFIELD
• SUCCASUNNA
• TOMS RIVER
• TURNERSVILLE
• UNION
• WATCHUNG
• WAYNE
• WESTWOOD