7 JCPenney stores will close across US. Here’s where doors are shutting

In a statement earlier this year, the retailer cited expiring lease agreements, market conditions and other business considerations behind its decision

By Grace Erwin

ORIGINAL NOTE: https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/7-jcpenney-stores-will-close-across-us-heres-where-doors-are-shutting/3726004/

Popular retail chain JCPenney confirmed seven of its stores will close their doors at the end of May.

In a statement earlier this year, the retailer cited expiring lease agreements, market conditions and other business considerations behind its decision to shutter what it described in a statement to TODAY.com as applying strictly to a “handful” of stores.

“Store evaluations and decisions are dynamic. While we do not have plans to significantly reduce our store count, we can confirm that there are seven isolated JCPenney store closures planned by the end of May,” a spokesperson told NBC Chicago.

The department chain has faced financial struggles in recent years, including a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing in 2020. In January, JCPenney merged with the multi-brand retailer SPARC Group to form Catalyst Brands, uniting six retail names including Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Lucky Brand and more.

Here are the stores closing by the end of May: