JCPenney confirms an unexpected change in the United States: in two weeks

Stores in the United States are undergoing a moment of deep transformation. New consumer trends and the growth of e-commerce have driven many chains to rethink their operations. In this context, some companies are making difficult decisions to keep competitive, and JCPenney is one of them.

JCPenney, one of the largest chains in the United States with more than 600 branches, confirmed that it will close several stores in seven states before May 25. This measure is part of a strategy to adapt to market changes and overcome the aftermath left by the pandemic.

Changes and closures underway

The rise of e-commerce has strongly impacted traditional retail business. More and more people prefer to shop online and receive their products at home, which forces companies like JCPenney to rethink their operational model. Last January, the merger with Sparc Group was announced: the company clarified that these closures are not related to that union but are part of a restructuring process.

The states where stores will close

JCPenney has a presence in all 50 states, but the closures will affect only some specific locations. According to data, these are the stores that will cease operations soon:

Tanforan in San Bruno, California

Northfield in Denver, Colorado

Pine Ridge Mall in Pocatello, Idaho

West Ridge Mall in Topeka, Kansas

Fox Run Mall in Newington, New Hampshire

Asheville Mall in Asheville, North Carolina

Mall in the heart of Charleston, West Virginia

For now, no new closures have been announced, so the rest of JCPenney's stores in the United States will remain open and operating normally.

Recent history and challenges for JCPenney

The chain is no stranger to problems. In 2020, in the midst of the Covid-19 crisis, it closed more than 200 stores after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy to try to save the company. In 2024, JCPenney announced an alliance with Forever 21, another company that later went bankrupt and had to close all its stores.

This event further hindered the retailer's recovery, which has been serving Americans since 1902. The closure of stores in these seven states reflects an effort to keep up in a demanding market that is rapidly changing, especially due to the competition from digital commerce.