The Plano, TX-based retailer announced earlier this week its plans to close 47 stores, including its 217,000 sf store at the Galleria at White Plains mall. The store, which is an original tenant at the 883,782 sf facility that opened in 1980, currently employs a total of 235 full and part-time workers.
Paul Wood, a spokesman for Mayor Delfino, says the news of the closure "blindsided" the city, since last year the administration persuaded the retailer to keep the store operating during an earlier round of store closings.
He said that the mayor was attempting to contact J.C. Penney officials to make a case for the White Plains store. Tim Lyons, a spokesman for J.C. Penney, says that Mayor Delfino has been in touch with the company about the store. However, at least at this point, no policy change on the closure has been made. Lyons termed the White Plains location as an "under-performing" store.
The only other New York state J.C. Penney store to be closed is in Ithaca. None of the retailer's locations in Connecticut are among the 47 slated to be shut down.
Paula Kelliher, the mall's marketing director, said the ownership, General Growth Properties, will begin marketing the space to prospective tenants. She said she is confident that the space will secure significant interest from many national retailers who seek a presence in this market.
She also noted that while the mall most likely will be saying good-bye to one of its original tenants (Macy's is the other anchor store at the facility) it will be welcoming trendy clothing retailer H&M, which will be opening a 23,000-sf outlet this spring.
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John Jordan
John Jordan is a veteran journalist with 36 years of print and digital media experience.
