 Yankee Candle was founded in 1969 by candle maker Michael Kittredge, and the Yankee Candle Village store in South Deerfield is a popular tourist attraction. Hard times for the stop-and-shop grocery chain. The Dutch-owned company said it will close eight stores in Massachusetts by November, outlets located in Worcester, Springfield, and in the eastern part of the state. Other stores in Connecticut will be closed.