Heartbreak for shoppers as JCPenney shuts store after 32 years, ‘closing soon’ signs stun shoppers' in Westminster

The oldest anchor store at the Westminster Mall, JCPenney, is closing by November. In an official notification, JCPenney notified the state's Employment Development Department and indicated the store would be open through November 16 and closed by November 21.

JCPenney has announced the closure of a beloved mall store that has served the community's retail needs for the past 32 years. As the oldest anchor store at the mall is shutting down in the coming months, shoppers are already being greeted with signs announcing the news.

One of the top department chains in the US, JCPenney has more than 650 stores in the US and Puerto Rico and billions of dollars in annual revenue, as per The Sun.


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JCPenney shutting down mall store

Shoppers told Patch that "store closing" banners and signs already hang on the storefront of the Westminster Mall. All 76 employees will lose their jobs in Westminster, unless they find positions at other JCPenney stores, The Orange County Register reported. The anchor store opened in Westminster in 1993, taking place of a Robinson-May store. It's closure will leave two JCPenneys in Orange County.

Reports point out that the retail giant is facing numerous challenges- from declining sales and foot traffic, lingering debt from its bankruptcy in 2020, and major competition from rival department stores like Macy's and Nordstrom. Once a strong name in the retail industry, JCPenney is also facing hurdles on the other front- such as captivating younger shoppers and navigating broader macroeconomic challenges like inflation and tariffs.

JCPenney is closing its location in the Westminster Mall in California by November. All 76 employees will be impacted by the permanent closure in Westminster - roughly 25 miles from Los Angeles - including 19 cashiers, 16 sales floor associates, and the location's general manager, per the WARN letter.

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“Based on business needs and associates’ interests, it is anticipated that a few associates may be offered employment in other JCPenney locations,” the letter said.

“Closing the store was a difficult decision. We thank you for the time and effort you have dedicated to JCPenney,” it continued. The JCPenney in Westminster opened its doors in 1993, replacing a Robinson-May store.

Once the location shuts down, just two JCPenneys in Orange County will remain, including one at the Brea Mall and the other at MainPlace Mall.

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Why is JCPenney shutting down?

The retailer has recently shut down several locations, adding to the more than 200 stores that have closed since it first filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy a few years ago. JCPenney’s downfall had been years in the making, weighed down by mounting debt, declining sales, and a string of failed turnaround efforts. By 2020, the pandemic turned those long-standing struggles into a breaking point.

The nationwide lockdown forced the retailer to close its stores, cutting off nearly all revenue just as consumer spending shifted dramatically online—a space where JCPenney lagged far behind competitors. With cash flow drying up, the company missed several debt payments in early 2020, leaving bankruptcy as its only option.