Walmart abruptly closes at least 3 N.J. Sam's Club stores, 63 nationwide

At least three Sam's Club stores in New Jersey closed abruptly Thursday -- as part of 63 closures nationwide -- surprising customers and employees who arrived to find the doors locked.

The closures and layoffs come on the same day Walmart -- the parent company of Sam's Club -- announced that it would increase wages for its U.S. workers, including its Sam's Club, supply chain, e-commerce and Home Office hourly associates.

The closures affect thousands of employees nationwide.

The three stores in New Jersey shuttered are in Mount Olive, Linden and West Windsor. There are at least seven Sam's Club locations in the state.

On Twitter, Sam's Club issued a statement saying, "After a thorough review of our existing portfolio, we've decided to close a series of clubs and better align our locations with our strategy. Closing clubs is never easy and we're committed to working with impacted members and associates through this transition."