(NEXSTAR) — After closing roughly 700 stores nationwide, Advance Auto Parts is preparing to open dozens of new stores through 2027. As part of a three-year financial plan, Advance Auto Parts announced in November that it would close about 700 of its more than 4,700 stores in the U.S. At th e time, the company said it aimed to standardize its “store operating model” and improve “labor productivity” while accelerating the “pace of new store openings.” Officials further discussed plans to open 60 market hub locations by mid-2027. On Wednesday, Advance Auto Parts confirmed it expects to open 30 new locations this year after completing "the store closure phase of its transformation plan." As part of its "returning to growth phase, the company plans to open at least an additional 100 new locations through 2027, including the aforementioned market hubs. Six new stores have already opened this year in Florida, New Jersey, Tennessee and Virginia. Additional stores are expected to open in Florida and Virginia, as well as Illinois, Maryland, Ohio and Wisconsin, Advance Auto Parts said in a release shared with Nexstar. A list of those exact store locations was not immediately available. Advance Auto Parts did, however, note that market hubs are on track to open in the Midwest soon. The larger stores are intended to "increase availability of parts" — while standard stores have 20,000 to 25,000 items, these hubs will have between 75,000 and 85,000, the company explained. “Advance Auto Parts is on the path to accelerate store growth and focused on the fundamentals of selling auto parts,” Shane O’Kelly, president and CEO of Advance Auto Parts, said in Wednesday's release. “We are excited about what’s to come for Advance. Our team members are committed to providing the right parts and the right service for our PRO and DIY customers in their communities.” ...read more read less