J.C. Penney Shutters Manhattan Mall Store, Company Says

MIDTOWN MANHATTAN, NY — New York City retailers are beginning to reopen as the city moves forward with its economic recovery from its devastating outbreak of the novel coronavirus, but the JC Penney location at the Manhattan Mall will remain closed for good, according to a company spokesperson

The department store made the decision to shutter the Herald Square location as part of a company-wide initiative to close hundreds of stores this summer. JC Penney has announced more than 150 store closures since June 17 as the company deals with bankruptcy proceedings.

JC Penney will also shutter its store at Brooklyn's Kings Plaza. The Kings Plaza store will reopen for a liquidation sale in the coming weeks before the store is closed on Sept. 27.

Eighteen JC Penney stores in the New York City area — including stores in Brooklyn's Gateway Mall, Elmhurst, Queens and Staten Island — will remain open amid the bankruptcy closings, the company announced.

Employees at stores that are closing "are being treated with the utmost consideration and respect," the company announced. The retailer did not explain whether that means employees have the chance to transfer to other stores or whether they are being laid off.

The Manhattan Mall and Kings Plaza JC Penney stores are two of fourteen closures announced this week. Other locations that will be closed are located in areas such as Phoenix, Dallas, Fort Myers, Florida and California.