Bradenton, Sarasota locations not on list of pending J.C. Penney closings

J.C. Penney is listing the 138 locations it will shutter in the coming months as the retailer seeks to cut costs and improve its profitability.

Like other department stores, J.C. Penney Co. is hurting as more people shop online instead of heading to the mall. The closures are part of the company’s previously announced plans to focus on its best-performing stores.

Two of the closures are in Florida, one in Jacksonville and the other in Jacksonville. The J.C. Penney stores at Desoto Square Mall and Westfield Sarasota are not on the list of closures.

Nine stores will close in Texas, the most of any state. Eight will close in Minnesota and seven will be shut in both Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Liquidation sales will start at the 138 stores next month, and most of them will be shut by mid-June.

The closings will leave J.C. Penney with a total of about 900 stores.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

This story was originally published March 17, 2017 at 4:29 PM with the headline "Bradenton, Sarasota locations not on list of pending J.C. Penney closings."