Iconic retail chain closing more stores soon (locations revealed)
The struggling brand has been working hard on a turn around plan.
It may not feel like it, but the world of retail has been turned upside down over the past few decades.
For example, a couple of generations ago, the average shopper visited more stores than they do now.
Related: Popular online retailer suddenly shutting down
That's because customers relied on a diversity of markets and shops to procure life's necessities.
Superstores weren't yet a concept, so if you needed to purchase meat, household supplies, clothing, shoes, and car parts, you'd likely have to visit several specialty shops to get all of those things.
This is partly why the indoor shopping mall became such a sensation in the 1980s and 1990s.
Suddenly, one centralized location offered shoppers access to a multitude of different stores. You could get food, salon services, clothing, furniture, and appliances all in one place.
Since so much commerce was happening in one central place, it's no wonder the average consumer used to spend 12 hours per month winding through a shopping mall.
Shopping malls are changing
Fast forward a couple decades, though, and things have shifted again.
The average American shopping mall's allure is dwindling, with shoppers instead opting to shop at more savings-savvy locales.
Places like outlet malls, which offer deeper discounts, or suburban plazas that feature stores like TJ Maxx, Marshalls, and Ross have skyrocketed in popularity.
More closings:
- Iconic retail chain closing nearly 500 stores
- Another discount retailer closing over 1,000 stores
- Another struggling mall retail chain closing more stores
And of course, the increasing popularity of e-commerce and online shopping has saved the average consumer more time, too. Instead of having to spend 12 hours per month in a shopping mall, people can search for what they need directly -- when they need it.
This is great news for the average consumer. For large mall tenants, however, a decline in foot traffic almost always means a decline in sales. And once shopping habits have shifted away from a given location, it's awfully hard to beckon sales back.
Top mall retail chain closing more stores
This is one of the reasons JCPenney, the once high-flying mall anchor store that represented the pinnacle of American capitalism in the late 20th century, has struggled.
After filing for bankruptcy in 2020, the mall retailer is attempting something of a turnaround plan; in January 2025 it merged with SPARC Group and formed Catalyst Brands.
Related: Iconic retail chain closing nearly 500 stores
It's also planning to close some stores, some of which are anticipated to shutter in mid-2025. Some of the reasons for the closures are "expiring lease agreements" and "market changes."
Some of those locations are:
- The Shops at Tanforan, 1122 El Camino Real, San Bruno, CA
- The Shops at Northfield, 8568 E 49th Ave., Denver, CO
- Pine Ridge Mall, 4201 Yellowstone Ave., Pocatello, ID
- West Ridge Mall, 1821 SW Wanamaker Road, Topeka, KS
- Annapolis Mall, 1695 Annapolis Mall Road, Annapolis, MD
- Mall at Fox Run, 50 Fox Run Road, Newington, NH
- Charleston Town Center, 401 Lee Street E, Charleston, WV
- Asheville Mall, 3 S Tunnel Road. Asheville, NC
"While we do not have plans to significantly reduce our store count, we expect a handful of JCPenney stores to close by mid-year," a spokesperson said of the closures.
