See which stores J.C. Penney will close in Stanislaus, San Joaquin, Merced counties
J.C. Penney plans to close three department stores in the region, but will so far spare its location at Modesto’s Vintage Faire Mall.
Stores in Turlock, Los Banos and Tracy are among 154 sites the company plans to shutter as part of its Chapter 11 bankruptcy proceedings. The 118-year-old department store chain is one of the largest and most high-profile national retailers to date to file for bankruptcy amid of the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and its subsequent shutdowns.
The list of planned stores closures represents a “first phase” in the company’s restructuring and more closures are expected in coming weeks, according to a corporate press release. About a third, or some 240 stores, are expected to be shut down in total, leaving roughly 600 stores remaining in the chain.
The company said it will begin closing stores across the country next week, June 12, with liquidation sales. Those processes could take 10 to 16 weeks to complete.
“While closing stores is always an extremely difficult decision, our store optimization strategy is vital to ensuring we emerge from both Chapter 11 and the COVID-19 pandemic as a stronger retailer with greater financial flexibility to allow us to continue serving our loyal customers for decades to come,” J.C. Penney CEO Jill Soltau said in a written statement about the closures. “I am incredibly grateful to our talented associates for their ongoing dedication and their passion for meeting and exceeding our customers’ expectations during this difficult and uncertain time. All impacted associates will be treated with the utmost consideration and respect.”
J.C. Penney’s bankruptcy comes at a time when national clothing retailers and department stores continue to struggle. The COVID-19 outbreak pushed some past the brink to bankruptcy like Neiman Marcus, J. Crew and Tuesday Morning.
Home goods seller Pier 1 announced its entire chain is going out of business, closing all 540 stores including locations on Pelandale Aveenue in Modesto, Countryside Drive in Turlock and Commerce Avenue in Manteca.
The J.C. Penney locations slated for closure are stores in Countryside Plaza in Turlock, San Luis Plaza in Los Banos and West Valley Mall in Tracy. Store closure sales are expected to begin June 12. The announcement leaves one J.C. Penney location each in Stanislaus County (at Modesto’s Vintage Faire Mall) and Merced County (at the Merced Mall), and two sites in San Joaquin County (at Manteca’s Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley and at Stockton’s Weberstown Mall).
This story was originally published June 5, 2020 at 11:56 AM.
