NE Ga stores closing

A Memphis-based discount retailer is the latest to announce a batch of store closings-including some in Georgia. Fred's says it will close 159 underperforming stores by the end of May, which is nearly one third of the company's current total of about 557 locations. 25 of the closing operations are in Georgia, including Fred’s stores in Cleveland, Dillard, Jasper, and Royston.

The company says that liquidation sales are beginning at those locations immediately and indicated a restructuring of the company may be in the works. Nearly 400 of the chain's locations will stay open and officials say they'll work to move affected employees to other locations.