The stores will be J.C. Penney's ninth in the Minneapolis-St. Paul market, and one of five new units to open in the area since 2003. The Plano, TX-based retailer has been in the market for 86 years.

J.C. Penney's growth in the area mirrors it overall ramp up across the country. Last year the retailer opened 18 new units, the most it had opened in eight years, and the company plans 27 new stores. The company is also making a push to open stores off-mall and recently signed a deal with Sephora to put the cosmetic retailer's shops inside its new units.

Kohl's, Sears, Target and Von Maur are the anchors that the 1.1 million-sf Eden Prairie Center. Chico's, Express, Express Men, Limited Too, Potbelly Sandwich Works and TGI Friday's are among some of the newer tenants at the center, which underwent an expansion and renovation in 2001.