DANVERS - A.J. Wright is closing 34 of its 162 discount clothing stores nationwide next month, including the one at 139 Endicott St., near the Liberty Tree Mall.

Two other North of Boston locations, in Methuen and Lawrence, will remain open, however, company spokeswoman Sherry Lang said.

A.J. Wright is owned by Framingham-based TJX Cos., which also owns Marshalls, Bob's Stores and T.J. Maxx.

The stores to be shuttered have profits that lag behind the rest of the division, Lang said.

"The stores ... were underperforming in the chain, and we did this to reposition A.J. Wright for more growth," Lang said.

The A. J. Wright Web site shows roughly two dozen locations in eastern Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Rhode Island.