If you grew up in Raleigh, North Hills wasn't just a place to shop. It was a vibe. It was the "new" Raleigh before the "new" Raleigh even existed. And right at the center of that ecosystem for decades sat the JCPenney North Hills Raleigh North Carolina location. It wasn't just a department store; it was a geographical anchor. You told people to meet you "near the Penney’s entrance." You bought your first interview suit there. Maybe you even worked there during a college summer.
But retail is a brutal game.
The story of the JCPenney at North Hills is basically a microcosm of the American shopping mall's entire evolution, from the golden age of the 1960s to the high-density, mixed-use luxury hubs we see today. Honestly, it’s kinda wild how much ground that specific plot of land has covered. While many people associate the "death of the mall" with crumbling buildings and empty parking lots, the JCPenney story in Raleigh is actually about the opposite: extreme success and the relentless push for modernization.
The Mid-Century Titan of Six Forks Road
When North Hills opened as an enclosed mall back in 1967, it was the first of its kind in the region. JCPenney was one of the original heavy hitters. Back then, Penney's wasn't seen as a "value" brand in the way some people view it now. It was a legitimate destination for everything from appliances to high-end school clothes.
The architecture was classic 60s/70s retail—massive, windowless, and designed to keep you inside for as long as possible. If you walked into the JCPenney North Hills Raleigh North Carolina store in 1985, you’d find a sprawling layout that felt permanent. It felt like it would be there forever.
The store survived the massive 2000s transition when North Hills flipped from a traditional "dead mall" into the "Main Street" style outdoor lifestyle center we know today. It was one of the few pieces of the "old" North Hills that Kane Realty Corporation kept around during the initial redevelopment. For a long time, it felt like a bridge between Raleigh’s past and its shiny, upscale future.
Why the JCPenney North Hills Raleigh North Carolina Store Eventually Vanished
It wasn't a lack of customers. That’s the irony.
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Usually, when a big anchor store closes, it’s because the area has gone downhill. In the case of JCPenney at North Hills, the area actually became too successful. The land underneath the store became more valuable than the retail sales coming out of the building. By the time 2020 rolled around, North Hills had transformed into a premium destination with high-end apartments, luxury boutique hotels like The AC, and office towers filled with tech workers.
A massive, two-story department store with a giant surface parking lot? That’s "underutilized" space in the eyes of developers.
The 2020 Turning Point
In early 2020, JCPenney announced it would be closing its North Hills location permanently. This was part of a larger corporate restructuring, sure, but for Raleigh locals, it felt different. It was the end of an era. The store officially shut its doors that summer.
People were genuinely bummed. You’d see comments on local forums like City-Data or the Raleigh subreddit where folks lamented the loss of an affordable anchor in an increasingly expensive neighborhood. Where do you go for basic towels or a reasonably priced blazer when everything around you is becoming a "luxury experience"?
What Replaced the Anchor?
If you drive by that spot today, the transformation is staggering. The old JCPenney footprint is now a massive construction site—or rather, a finished multi-use marvel known as the Main District Expansion.
Kane Realty didn't just put another store there. They went vertical. We're talking:
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- High-rise office space (the 12-story 400H building).
- Luxury residential units.
- A new public plaza.
- High-end retail like Restoration Hardware (RH), which features a rooftop restaurant.
It’s a complete 180 from the days of bargain bins and catalog pickups. The shift from JCPenney North Hills Raleigh North Carolina to a luxury RH Gallery is basically the story of Raleigh's gentrification and growth in a nutshell. It’s slicker, it’s more expensive, and it’s definitely more "Instagrammable."
The Sephora Factor and the Retail Shift
One thing people often forget about the North Hills Penney’s was its Sephora "store-within-a-store." Before Sephora became a standalone titan in every major shopping center, that counter inside JCPenney was the go-to spot for beauty enthusiasts in Midtown Raleigh.
When the store closed, that specific Sephora disappeared too, leaving a temporary void until other beauty retailers like Ulta and standalone Sephoras nearby filled the gap. It's a reminder that these anchor stores provided more than just clothes—they were hosts for smaller brands that people actually cared about.
Is Anything Left of the Old Store?
Physical remnants? No. The building was razed to make way for the new towers. The parking lot where you used to fight for a spot on a Saturday morning has been replaced by underground decks and structured parking.
However, the legacy of JCPenney North Hills Raleigh North Carolina lives on in the way the district is laid out. The reason North Hills is a "thing" today is because stores like Penney's proved that the intersection of Six Forks Road and Lassiter Mill Road was a goldmine. They built the foundation. They proved the foot traffic.
Navigating the New North Hills: Actionable Tips
If you’re heading to the area where JCPenney used to stand, the "vibe" has changed, but the utility of the area has actually increased. You just have to know how to navigate it now.
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1. Rethink your parking strategy.
Don't even try to find street-level parking in the Main District on a Friday night. It’s a nightmare. Head straight for the parking decks behind the AC Hotel or under the new expansion towers. Most of it is free, which is a rare win in modern Raleigh.
2. Check out the RH Rooftop.
Even if you aren't in the market for a $5,000 sofa, the space that replaced part of the Penney’s footprint is architecturally stunning. The rooftop restaurant offers one of the best views of the Midtown skyline. It's a far cry from the JCPenney portrait studio, but it’s the new reality of the neighborhood.
3. Shop the "New" Anchors.
If you miss the one-stop-shop feel of a department store, you’ll have to piece it together. Target is still right across the street in the "Commons" section of North Hills for your basics, and REI is nearby for outdoor gear. The days of getting your tires changed at the Penney's Auto Center while you shop for a wedding gift are officially over.
4. Explore the Walkability.
The best way to experience the post-JCPenney North Hills is on foot. The developers built "the plinth," a raised pedestrian area that connects the new towers. It’s great for people-watching and actually makes the area feel like a real city rather than a suburban shopping center.
The loss of JCPenney North Hills Raleigh North Carolina was a sentimental hit for many long-time residents, but it also paved the way for Raleigh to step into its role as a major tech and lifestyle hub. The site has evolved from a place where you bought "stuff" to a place where you "experience" things. Whether that's an improvement depends on who you ask, but the economic impact on the city is undeniable.
If you're looking for that classic JCPenney experience now, your best bets in the Triangle are at Triangle Town Center or over at The Streets at Southpoint in Durham. But for Midtown Raleigh, the era of the traditional department store anchor has officially transitioned into the era of the high-rise.