Kohl’s will close one free-standing and two mall stores in metro Atlanta as part of a belt-tightening effort by the retailer to prune underperforming locations.

The stores at 2342 Holcomb Bridge Road in Roswell and at Northlake Mall, 4820 Briarcliff Road, will close June 19, the retailer announced Thursday. The Stonecrest Mall location, 2929 Turner Hill Road in Lithonia, will close Nov. 1.

Kohl’s said it is closing 18 stores nationwide, representing less than 1 percent of total sales. The company said its decision to give certain locations the axe included a comprehensive review of all markets, rent and expenses in the area and the customer base.

Kohl's closure of  the 18 stores this year is a shift away from its aggressive expansion of stores in recent years across the country.

Workers at the closing stores will be eligible for transfer to other locations or severance packages if the decline to move, the company said. Kohl’s said its stores employ about 80 to 100 workers on average.