Iconic retail brand closing stores nationwide for good (locations revealed)

The retail outlet has been an American mainstay for more than 120 years.

Mar 28, 2025 - 16:38

The retail climate in America has been rough for the past few years. Even some of the most classic American brands, including Macy's and Nordstrom, have not been immune to the devastation.

No one could have predicted what the COVID-19 pandemic would do to shopping habits and shopping malls across the country.

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Lockdowns and store closures meant people were not leaving their homes to shop. And when foot traffic is down, so are profits.

Once the pandemic chaos had eased a bit, and people were out and about again, it was too late for many retailers.

At the same time, big-box retailers like Costco, Target, and Walmart were seeing huge profits while fine-tuning their online shopping experiences.

JCP has been a retail mainstay for more than 100 years but like other retailers it has struggled in recent years.
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JCPenney has struggled in recent years

For nearly a century, JCPenney offered affordable home goods, especially bed and bath items, but over the past 20 years, the brand lost market share to Target and Walmart, outlets that appeal to the same cost-conscious customers.

In recent years, JCPenney tried to modernize such as by adding "stores within a store," as they did with the popular makeup chain Sephora. However, that relationship came to contentious end in 2020.

2024 was not kind to JCPenney. Its Q3 net sales fell 8% to $1.4 billion, according to financial filings. With credit card income up nearly 33%, total revenue fell 6.2% to $1.5 billion. Q4 2024 was not much better.

Now the company is closing stores. JCPenney is not the only retailer being forced to make the decision to shutter locations. According to Coresight Research, 15,000 retail stores are expected to shut down in 2025, more than double the 7,325 stores that closed in 2024. Other major retailers like Macy’s, Kohl’s, Big Lots, and Party City are also facing similar challenges. Some are undertaking liquidation sales, some are simply shutting down.

These JCPenney locations are closing in 8 states

In a story on Axios, a JCPenney spokesperson said, "While we do not have plans to significantly reduce our store count, we expect a handful of JCPenney stores to close by midyear." The following eight locations — out of 650 stores — will reportedly close this year:

The Shops at Tanforan in San Bruno, California
The Shops At Northfield in Denver, Colorado
Pine Ridge Mall in Pocatello, Idaho
West Ridge Mall in Topeka, Kansas
Westfield Annapolis Mall in Annapolis, Maryland
Fox Run Mall in Newington, New Hampshire
Asheville Mall in Asheville, North Carolina
Charleston Town Center in Charleston, West Virginia

While the retail chain declined to give specifics about why the eight stores are closing, store closures can be caused by “expiring lease agreements, market changes or other factors," according to a report in USA Today.

In January 2025, the company merged with Sparc to form Catalyst Brands, a move aimed at strengthening its retail presence. Despite the announced closures, JCPenney says it is working on a long-term revival plan.