HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) — PetSmart Inc. says it’s closing a distribution center in Hagerstown that employs more than 50 people.…

HAGERSTOWN, Md. (AP) — PetSmart Inc. says it’s closing a distribution center in Hagerstown that employs more than 50 people.

The Herald-Mail (http://bit.ly/1mqjas7 ) reported in its Wednesday edition that the Phoenix-based company will begin a gradual shutdown of the warehouse July 24. The company says the center will cease operations July 27 and close completely by Sept. 15.

PetSmart says it’s closing the Hagerstown center and another in Gahanna, Ohio, to consolidate Northeastern distribution operations in Bethel, Pa.

The Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation says the closure affects 56 workers.

A PetSmart spokeswoman says the center had a work force of about 100 employees in February. She says about 20 percent of those employees have transferred or are in the process of transferring to the Bethel distribution center.

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Information from: The Herald-Mail of Hagerstown, Md., http://www.herald-mail.com

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