JCPenney boasts sale of 70% off for latest store closure after shutting down eight locations this year

JCPENNEY is offering fans up to 70% off as the beloved department store chain winds down operations at its latest store on the chopping block.

The massive liquidation sales come in the wake of eight other shutdowns earlier this year.

AFP

JCPenney stands as one of the largest department stores, with over 650 stores across the US and Puerto Rico – but that doesn’t mean the company hasn’t faced its fair share of challenges.

The company has dealt with dropping sales and guest count, competition from rivals such as Macy’s and Nordstrom, and leftover debt from its 2020 bankruptcy filing.

JCPenney was forced to shut down over 200 spots since its bankruptcy filing amid the height of the coronavirus pandemic.

One of the locations on the list was the JCPenney at Beaver Valley Mall in Monaca, Pennsylvania – roughly 31 miles northwest of Pittsburgh – which was ultimately saved once its closing process had commenced.

The Monaca location is once again on the chopping block, however, a JCPenney representative told The U.S. Sun.

“The JCPenney store at the Beaver Valley Mall in Monaca, PA, will close its doors in fall 2025,” said the spokesperson in an emailed statement.

“Regretfully, we are unable to continue our current lease terms for this store location and have been unable to find another suitable location in the market.

“We are grateful to our dedicated associates and the loyal customers who have shopped at our Monaca, PA, location through the years, and we hope to continue serving them throughout our nearly 650 stores nationwide and at JCPenney.com.”

SALES AND SADNESS

A Facebook post from the Beaver Valley Mall revealed that JCPenney is sending shoppers off with a store closing sale, with discounts starting at 20% off.

JCPenney customer James Scullin likewise shared a social media post regarding the location’s closing sales, uploading an image of the inside of the store.

One of the signs alerts shoppers that the entire store is 50% to 70% off, while another says, “Nothing held back!”

In addition to apparel and regular merchandise, the closing store’s furniture, fixtures, and equipment is also for sale, according to another sign.

Scullin blamed the rise of online shopping and e-commerce giants like Amazon for the JCPenney closure, writing, “Sign of the times from a dying mall.”

Luckily for shoppers, six other JCPenney stores in malls remain in west Pennsylvania, in Monroeville, Indiana, Robinson, Ross Park, Westmoreland, and Uniontown

SWEEPING CLOSURES

Once a major force in the retail sector, JCPenney’s struggles have been quite evident as its closures slowly creep across the nation.

In addition to its hundreds of shutdowns following its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, the chain closed seven stores on or before May 25.

The closures, part of ongoing restructuring and optimization efforts,  impacted customers in seven states: California, Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, New Hampshire, North Carolina, and West Virginia.

JCPenney later shuttered its Westfield Annapolis Mall location in Maryland earlier this month on August 18.

The company announced these locations were shut down due to expiring leases and market changes, with no future plans for a major reduction in its overall store count. 

The retailer is also planning to close a beloved mall store in Westminster, California, this fall.

JCPenney is a prime example of the struggles sweeping the retail sector, with a so-called retail apocalypse underway.

A number of factors are weighing heavily on the industry, including inflation, higher interest rates, and a shift in consumer behavior towards online shopping that was accelerated by the pandemic.

Experts have predicted a whopping 15,000 stores will close this year, more than double last year’s estimate.

One of the companies that has fallen victim is a popular home goods chain, plotting to close 30 locations.

Meanwhile, a leaked memo has revealed Kroger’s next big move weeks after 60 stores prepare to close.