Running shoe maker New Balance has confirmed to workers that it will be permanently closing its plant in the Boston suburb of Brighton.
CEO Joe Preston had to travel less than two miles to deliver the news, since the plant is just minutes away from the shoemaker’s headquarters.
The move cuts 63 jobs and will take place in February of 2021.
But the news for New Balance isn’t all bad.
The company plans to add about 150 jobs across locations in New England, many in Methuan, Massachusetts, where the company has a new factory nearing completion.
The company says Methuan is closer to its R&D hub, which is one reason behind the shift.
Retail closures have impacted sales for New Balance, but e-commerce helped the business claw back.
According to the Boston Globe, New Balance reports e-commerce sales went from 30% of total revenue in 2019 to 50% in 2020.