Major national department store abruptly shuts four stores across several states

One of America’s largest department stores is closing four locations.

Once-thriving JCPenney has been struggling with declining sales and has been slowly shrinking since the pandemic.

The four closures apply in as many states: Alabama, Texas, Maine and Maryland.

Three of them will close in early September: Shoppes at Bel Air in Mobile, Alabama; Sikes Senter in Wichita Falls, Texas; and Elm Plaza in Waterville, Maine.

The fourth, at the Westfield Annapolis Mall in Annapolis, Maryland, will close in 2025.

Like competitor Macy’s, JCPenney is bucking the trend of Americans increasingly shopping online.

This trend is strongest among younger shoppers, who particularly view department stores as old-fashioned.

Earlier this year, Macy’s announced it would close 150 stores over the next three years, leaving it with just 150.

But JCPenney executives paint a slightly rosier picture.

Last month, Simon Property Group CEO David Simon said no large-scale closures were planned, and that some might open.

In fact, it said the four closures were because it could not renew the leases. It had tried to find alternative locations in the areas but had failed.

The Cain also recently closed a location in the Wayne Towne Center in Wayne, New Jersey, and has now opened one across the street.

The 122-year-old retailer has faced enormous challenges in recent years. In 2020, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which led to the closure of 200 stores.

Brookfield Properties and Simon Property Group bought JCPenney out of bankruptcy in 2020.

In 2023, three more closed: in Oswego (NY), Elkhart (IN) and Detroit Lakes (MN).

And in February of this year, the company closed another location in Ukiah, California, a small city in the northern part of the state.

JCPenney now has about 660 stores, almost all of them mainline stores in malls. It has not experimented with off-mall locations as rivals such as Macy’s have.

Before the pandemic, things were brighter. There was a collaboration with Rihanna and her cosmetics brand Fenty Beauty.

“Unfortunately, we are unable to continue with the current lease terms for these store locations and have been unable to find suitable locations in the market,” the company said. Shopping Dive last month.

‘We are grateful for our dedicated employees and the loyal customers who have been shopping at these locations for years.

“We remain committed to ensuring that every dollar counts for America’s diverse working families and invite them to shop at our other JCPenney stores in the region and at JCPenney.com.”

Brookfield Properties and Simon Property Group bought JCPenney out of bankruptcy in 2020.

In its most recent earnings figures, JCPenney saw sales fall 6 percent.

JCPenney’s closures come amid a widespread “retail apocalypse,” with brick-and-mortar stores struggling with rising theft and ever-shrinking profit margins.

In late April, US retailers announced they would close nearly 2,600 stores by 2024.

Walmart, the largest retailer in the US, has closed 11 stores so far this year.

Earlier in April, dollar store 99 Cents Only said it would close all 371 of its stores, while Best Buy closed 10. in March.

Money tree close 1,000, and drugstore Rite Aid almost 800.

There has been a series of bankruptcies and store closures in recent months.

Express, a well-known mall-based retailer, filed for bankruptcy in April and said it would close 95 Express locations, in addition to all of its UpWest stores.

In early May, Rue21, the teen fashion chain that is a fixture in malls across America, also announced that it will close all of its 543 stores in the US.