Sam's Club stores close around the country

(RNN) – Walmart shuttered Sam’s Club locations throughout the country Thursday.

There were reports of stores closing in more than 10 states, including Arizona, Illinois, Maryland, Alaska, Ohio, New York, Connecticut, Louisiana, Texas, Indiana, New Jersey, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee.

The company tweeted that the company reviewed their portfolio and closing clubs, which is what they call stores, to "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."

All Sam’s Club locations in Alaska are closing, KTVA TV reported.

Jessica Buckner, an audit team lead at the Sam’s Club location in the Tikahtnu Commons, said all Alaska stores are closing as part of a larger downsizing across the United States.

A closing in New Jersey caught one family by surprise.

With the closings also came concerns about prescriptions at Sam's Club pharmacies.

The move came on the same day that Walmart boosted starting pay to $11 an hour and offered one-time bonuses to some of its employees.

There are more than 650 Sam’s Club locations across the U.S and Puerto Rico.

Communities began getting word of the closings Thursday morning.

Irondale, Alabama, was one of them.

Employees also got word in Baton Rouge, LA.