Bargain hunters note that a JCPenney store in Wichita Falls, Texas, is set to close its doors for good on September 22.
Shoppers will have a chance to score some deals as the store holds a big sale in the weeks leading up to its closure.
JCPenney Closes Historic Sikes Senter Store
JCPenney is set to shut down its store in Sikes Senter, marking the end of an era for the last original anchor store in the mall, which opened 50 years ago, per AOL. Notices on the store's doors on Thursday indicated the impending closure.
The store offers all merchandise at a 50% discount, although the reasons behind the closure remain unclear.
JCPenney and Dillard's Department Store were the inaugural anchor retailers when Sikes Senter opened in October 1974, relocating from their previous locations in downtown Wichita Falls.
According to a note on the store window reported by CBS affiliate KAUZ-TV, a sale will occur leading up to the closure of the JCPenney store. Another notice confirmed that the store is indeed shutting down.
Store officials have disclosed the reason for the closure but have not made it public yet.
The U.S. Reports that some shoppers expressed their frustration, attributing the closure to the rise of online shopping. One shopper noted that online purchases harm local businesses, suggesting people don't realize the impact.
They remarked sarcastically about the convenience of shopping on platforms like Amazon, warning that soon, there might be no local stores left to shop at.
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More JCPenney Stores Closing in September
The JCPenney store in Wichita Falls is not the only location closing its doors in September. Franchise Herald recently reported that the retail chain is also shutting down its store in Mobile, Alabama, leaving only nine JCPenneystores operational across the state.
On Friday, a sign was placed on the Mobile store at the Shoppes at Bel Air, announcing its impending closure. The store has been a major part of the shopping center since its expansion in 1974, making it the largest mall in the state until the Riverchase Galleria was built.
A company spokesperson stated that the Mobile store would close by September 22. The closure was attributed to the challenges of continuing under the current lease terms and the failure to secure a suitable alternative location in the area.
The spokesperson expressed gratitude to the store's dedicated staff and the loyal customers who have supported the mobile location over the years.
The remaining JCPenney stores in Alabama are in Alabaster, Dothan, Fultondale, Hoover, Montgomery, Oxford, Prattville, Tuscaloosa, and Trussville.
A 2020 document filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission outlined JCPenney's plan to close about 29% of its 846 stores, amounting to 242 locations.
According to the filing, 192 stores were scheduled to close by the end of the fiscal year in February, with an additional 50 locations slated for closure in the next fiscal year.
The filing emphasized that the remaining 604 stores are the network's most sales-generating, profitable, and productive.
Moreover, JCPenney in Ukiah, California, closed permanently in May, according to The U.S. Sun. Similarly, the JCPenney outlet in Waterford, Connecticut, shut its doors for the last time in the same month.
Company leaders have stated that deciding to close a store is always difficult, reflecting many traditional retailers' challenges in the current economic climate.
Related Article: JC Penney Final Sale: Bankruptcy Forces Closure of Alabama Store, Only 9 Remain
