"While Kohl's continues to believe in the health and strength of its profitable store base, these specific locations were underperforming stores," the company said. Start the day

Kohl’s said Friday it was closing 27 underperforming stores in 15 states by April _ a fraction of its 1,150 store base _ as the struggling department store aims to boost profitability and improve sagging sales.

Macy’s and Kohl’s are closing one store each in Colorado as part of the department store chains’ plans to dump underperforming stores this year. Macy’s released a list Thursday of 66 closures that includes the store at the Northfield Stapleton shopping center in Denver.