It feels like every few months we hear the same thing. Another mall anchor is biting the dust, and everyone rushes to check if their local spot is on the list. For a lot of us, JCPenney isn't just a store; it’s where you got your first suit or those back-to-school jeans that actually fit.
But retail is brutal lately.
If you're asking what JCPenney stores are closing, you aren't alone. The rumors fly fast, especially when big real estate deals fall through or "retail apocalypse" headlines start trending again. Honestly, the situation with Penney's is a bit more nuanced than just "everything is shutting down."
Let’s get into the actual list of what's going on right now and what's happening behind the scenes in 2026.
The 2025-2026 Closure List: Where the Lights Are Going Out
The most recent wave of closures wasn't a massive "everything must go" fire sale, but rather a surgical strike on locations where leases were up or foot traffic just didn't justify the rent. Most of these shutdowns were slated to wrap up by mid-2025 or the very beginning of 2026.
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Here are the specific spots that have been hit:
- California: The Shops at Tanforan in San Bruno.
- Colorado: The Shops at Northfield in Denver.
- Maryland: Westfield Annapolis Mall in Annapolis.
- West Virginia: Charleston Town Center in Charleston.
- North Carolina: Asheville Mall in Asheville.
- Idaho: Pine Ridge Mall in Pocatello.
- Kansas: West Ridge Mall in Topeka.
- New Hampshire: Mall at Fox Run in Newington.
It’s a bummer for those communities. When a JCPenney leaves a mall, it often leaves a massive hole that’s hard to fill. But wait—there’s more to the story. You might have seen headlines about 119 or 120 stores being in "limbo."
The $947 Million Real Estate Drama
There was a huge deal on the table. A private equity firm called Onyx Partners was supposed to buy a massive portfolio of JCPenney properties from a trust. We’re talking about stores in prime spots like the Staten Island Mall, North Riverside Park Mall in Illinois, and huge locations in Texas and California.
The deal fell through in late December 2025.
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Naturally, everyone panicked. People thought, "Oh, if the sale failed, the stores must be closing." But Catalyst Brands, the parent company, stepped in pretty quickly to clear the air. Basically, the failed sale was about who owns the land and the building, not whether the store inside is staying open. For now, those 119 locations are staying put. They’re still paying rent; the check is just going to a different landlord than originally planned.
Why JCPenney is Still Hanging On
You’ve gotta give them credit—they aren't going down without a fight. While Sears is basically a ghost and Macy’s is aggressively trimming its fat, JCPenney is leaning into a "working families" strategy.
They recently dumped over $1 billion into a reinvestment plan.
Have you been in a refreshed store lately? It’s different. They’ve upgraded the Wi-Fi (finally), put better tech in the hands of employees, and revamped the beauty section after the whole Sephora-to-Kohls breakup. They even launched new home collections with folks like Jenny Martinez and Laura Ashley to try and get people back in the aisles.
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The Reality Check
Even with the fancy new home goods, the numbers are still a bit shaky. Net sales dipped about 3.8% in late 2025. The CEO, Marc Rosen, is betting everything on "value." They know their shoppers are feeling the pinch of inflation, so they’re leaning hard into being the affordable alternative to the more "upscale" department stores.
Is Your Local Store Next?
If your store isn't on that specific list of eight locations mentioned earlier, you're likely safe for the immediate future. However, there are a few "danger signs" you can look for if you're worried about your local branch:
- The Anchor Effect: If the other big stores in your mall (like Macy’s or Sears) have already left, the mall itself might be dying. JCPenney rarely stays in a ghost mall for long.
- Inventory Lag: If you notice the shelves aren't being restocked or the "clearance" section is taking over half the floor, that's usually a bad sign.
- Lease Cycles: Most retail leases run in 5 or 10-year cycles. If a store has been there a long time and the area has gone downhill, management might just let the lease expire rather than renewing.
Actionable Steps for JCPenney Shoppers
If you’re a regular, don't leave money on the table. Here is how to handle the current retail shift:
- Check the Rewards Program: JCPenney revamped their loyalty system recently. If you have points, use them. Don't let them sit there in case of a surprise closure.
- Shop the App: If your local store does close, the app is actually decent now. They've put a lot of that $1 billion reinvestment into the digital side.
- Watch the Liquidation Sales: If a store near you is on the closing list, liquidation usually starts a few months before the final date. The discounts start at 10-30% and hit the 70-90% range in the final two weeks. Just remember: all sales are final during a closing.
Retail is changing, but JCPenney seems determined to keep its remaining 650ish stores alive. They’re betting that "middle-class America" still wants a place to buy a decent pair of boots and a slow cooker without breaking the bank. Whether that bet pays off depends on how many of us keep walking through those mall doors.