Iconic department store JCPenney closes massive California location

Another staple of the American shopping mall is quietly trimming its stock.

JCPenney continues to shrink its nationwide footprint, with yet another round of closures hitting suburban retail centers in 2026 — including a longtime anchor store in California.

The most recent Golden State casualty was the retailer’s massive outpost at the Stoneridge Shopping Center in Pleasanton, situated in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area.

The store had been in that location since the 1980’s, and permanently shut its doors on February after JCPenney said lease renewal negotiations fell apart.

“Regretfully, we are unable to continue our current lease terms for this store location and have been unable to find another suitable location in the market,” a JCPenney spokesperson told the Pleasanton Weekly. “We are grateful to our dedicated associates and the loyal customers who have shopped at our Pleasanton, CA, location through the years.

JCPenney’s California retreat is just one of many amid a wider, company-wide contraction.

Other stores that have closed this year include locations at Seminole Towne Center in Sanford, Florida; Ford City Mall in Chicago; Rivergate Mall in Goodlettsville, Tennessee; and Springfield Town Center in Springfield, Virginia.

The chain also recently closed its nearly 40-year-old store at Ross Park Mall outside Pittsburgh, after similarly failing to reach an agreement on its lease.

At the store’s peak in the 1970s, shoppers had more than 2,000 locations to choose from. In 2020, prior to filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, that number dropped to just 846 stores according to the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Now, across the country, the chain’s store count has dwindled to roughly 640 locations.

While the retailer was snatched up by Simon Property Group in a $1.75 billion deal in 2020, expiring legacy mall leases and foot traffic shifts have forced tough calls on underperforming or high-rent locations.

Its finances aren’t exactly giving mall rats reason for optimism, either.

Net sales reportedly sank more than 8% year-over-year to $1.3 billion during the second quarter of 2026.

“The market, even just for department stores, grew during the quarter, so JCP’s sales dip represents a serious loss of market share,” GlobalData Managing Director Neil Saunders told Retail Dive.

There are still a few signs of life. Beauty, jewelry, home and activewear were among the better-performing categories, while the chain is trying to juice its business with a new online marketplace.

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