Is JCPenney Closing Stores in 2026?

It's no secret that many stores have been closing their doors for good in recent years. In fact, according to Coresight Research, more than 8,000 stores shut down U.S. locations in 2025, including retail giants and department stores. Unfortunately for fans of the chain, JCPenney wasn't spared.

After closing eight locations across eight states in 2025, the retailer has already confirmed three more closures in 2026, leaving its broader future in question after a nearly $1 billion store sale deal collapsed. If you enjoyed shopping for deals at one of these locations, you'll need to find other ways to put extra cash in your pocket.

Here's what we know about JCPenney's 2025 and 2026 closures, plus how many stores remain open as of May 2026.

JCPenney has confirmed three store closures in 2026 so far. As of May 2026, the retailer still operates over 640 locations across all 50 U.S. states. California, Florida, and Texas claim the most stores relative to other states, according to data company ScrapeHero, with Texas in the lead. 

So far in 2026, the store shuttered one location in Pleasanton, California, in February. Springfield, Virginia, and Sanford, Florida, are slated to shut down in late May. 

In 2025, the store shut down eight locations in California, Colorado, and six other states. Below, see which states lost JCPenney stores in 2025 and 2026.

• San Bruno: 1122 El Camino Real

The Shops at Tanforan lost its JCPenney on May 25 of 2025. No details were released as to why this particular location was chosen, but the company did make general statements about lease negotiations and market fluctuations. 

• Pleasanton: 1500 Stoneridge Mall Rd

The JCPenney at Stoneridge Mall in Pleasanton permanently closed on February 22, 2026, after the company said it was "unable to continue our current lease terms for this store location and have been unable to find another suitable location in the market." 

JCPenney had been a fixture at Stoneridge since the mall opened in 1980. It leaves Macy's as the only major anchor retailer remaining there, after Sears closed in 2018 and Nordstrom shuttered in 2020.

There are 60+ stores remaining in California.

• Denver: 8568 E. 49th Ave.

The Shops at Northfield said goodbye to its JCPenney on May 25 of 2025. The open-air mall also lost its Macy's. The shopping center, since rebranded as the Avenues at Northfield, is owned by Stockdale Capital Partners. It's undergoing massive changes between now and 2027, potentially including the addition of apartment complexes and new shops such as Nike, Lululemon, Trader Joe's, and more.

• Sanford: 310 Towne Center Cir.

The JCPenney at Seminole Towne Center in Sanford, Florida, is slated to close on May 24, 2026, after 31 years in operation. The building was sold to Atlanta-based developer Ardent in December 2025 for $7 million as part of a larger mall redevelopment. Ardent plans to demolish the original mall structure in mid-2026, with a Costco opening on the former Macy's site expected in 2027.

• Pocatello: 4201 Yellowstone Ave.

Pine Ridge Mall advertised a storewide sale before closing its JCPenney, with sales from 20% to 50% off. Renovations are underway for Target to take over the storefront.

• Topeka: 1821 S.W. Wanamaker Road

West Ridge Mall lost a JCPenney on May 25 of 2025, but according to the new owners, this is just one of many mall transformations to come. The purchase was negotiated by Advisors Excel, and the location is said to include office space and a mixture of restaurants and other retailers.

• Annapolis: 1695 Annapolis Mall Road

After much back-and-forth about whether the store would remain open, including negotiations and an unexpected lease extension, the Annapolis Mall closed its JCPenney in August. Hobby Lobby, Grocery Outlet, and Onelife Fitness were among the tenants expected to take over the massive space.

• Asheville: 3 S. Tunnel Road

The Asheville Mall JCPenney joined many other locations in going out of business on May 25 of 2025. As of March 2026, there are 13 JCPenney locations in North Carolina, including in Burlington, Concord, Durham, and Greensboro.

• Newington: 50 Fox Run Road

Torrington Properties now owns the entire Mall at Fox Run, as well as the Newington Park Shopping Center — a shopping plaza adjacent to the mall. The JCPenney department store building was purchased for $8 million at the end of 2024, and the location was closed by May 25.

• Springfield: 6699 Springfield Mall

The JCPenney at Springfield Town Center will be closing on May 24, 2026, ending a 53-year run at the location. Catalyst Brands, JCPenney's parent company, cited the same inability to continue current lease terms. The Springfield closure had been in negotiation for months before being confirmed in early 2026.

• Charleston: 401 Lee St. E.

JCPenney left the Charleston Town Center Mall in May 2025 after 42 years of business. The area has also lost its Sears and Macy's stores in recent years.

The department store giant filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020 with billions of dollars in debt but emerged from bankruptcy after being acquired by Simon Property Group and Brookfield Asset Management Inc. Since the initial bankruptcy filing, over 200 stores have closed.

In January of 2025 JCPenney merged with SPARC Group to create Catalyst Brands, which launched with $1 billion in liquidity and 1,800 store locations. It includes brands such as Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand, and Nautica.

The joint venture was an all-equity transaction with shareholders Simon Property Group, Brookfield Corporation, Authentic Brands Group, and Shein. Marc Rosen has transitioned from CEO of JCPenney to CEO of the new Catalyst Brands. The company claimed the merger had nothing to do with the 2025 store closures.

Is JCPenney going out of business?

No. JCPenney has roughly 600+ stores open as of May 2026 and has shown steady foot traffic gains. However, a failed Onyx Partners deal has introduced real uncertainty. The 119 store properties involved in that collapsed transaction remain in a trust controlled by JCPenney's landlord-investors, and how that situation resolves could influence the pace and scope of future closures. The company hasn't announced a large-scale closure wave for 2026, but the retail environment and ongoing lease negotiations mean isolated closures are likely to continue.

Who owns JCPenney now?

JCPenney is now part of Catalyst Brands, a retail holding company formed in January 2025 through a merger between JCPenney and SPARC Group. Catalyst Brands is jointly owned by Simon Property Group, Brookfield Corporation, Authentic Brands Group, and Shein, and also operates Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Eddie Bauer, Lucky Brand, and Nautica. Michelle Wlazlo serves as JCPenney Brand CEO within the new structure.

Will JCPenney close more stores in 2026?

JCPenney hasn't announced additional closures beyond the three confirmed so far in 2026. That said, the company continues to navigate lease negotiations on a store-by-store basis, and isolated closures are likely as market conditions shift. A larger question mark hangs over the 119 store properties involved in the collapsed Onyx Partners deal.

Retail store locations are struggling to stay open in the current economy, and projections indicate it's only going to get worse. 2025 saw the highest number of store closures since 2020, but many of the stores "rescued" from bankruptcy by private equity are now being stripped for parts and sold, while still blaming the pandemic for failing to recover.