After more than three decades serving the Westminster community, JCPenney has announced it will close its store at Westminster Mall in California on November 21, 2025. The store — the oldest anchor in the 51-year-old shopping centre — has been a retail staple since 1993. Now, “store closing” signs are already greeting shoppers, signalling the end of an era.
The closure will affect 76 employees, including 19 cashiers, 16 sales floor associates, and the general manager. According to a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) letter, the store will remain open to the public through November 16 before officially shutting its doors just before Thanksgiving.
A retailer is fighting to stay relevant
JCPenney, once one of America’s strongest department store chains, has been fighting to stay afloat in today’s cutthroat retail landscape. The company still operates more than 650 stores across the U.S. and Puerto Rico, but its struggles are far from over.
Ever since they filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2020, JCPenney has closed more than 200 locations. Guess what? They continue to face declining sales, reduced foot traffic, and intense competition from rivals like Macy’s and Nordstrom. Younger shoppers have shifted toward fast fashion and online retail, leaving legacy brands scrambling to reinvent themselves.
A JCPenney spokesperson admitted the Westminster Mall closure was a tough call:
“Regretfully, we are unable to continue our current lease terms for this store location and have been unable to find another suitable location in the market. Closing the store was a difficult decision. We thank our dedicated associates and loyal customers for their years of support.”
The fallout for employees and shoppers
All employees at the Westminster location will lose their jobs, though JCPenney says it may try to relocate a few workers to other stores. Shoppers in Orange County will now have only two JCPenney stores left—one at Brea Mall and one at MainPlace Mall.
Customers have already spotted discounts of up to 20% off, but many say the markdowns are bittersweet. For long-time patrons, this is more than a sale — it’s a farewell to a place where families shopped for school clothes, holiday gifts, and Sunday bests for decades.
A bigger crisis for brick-and-mortar retail
JCPenney’s troubles reflect a much larger crisis facing U.S. retailers. Experts warn that as many as 45,000 brick-and-mortar stores could close in the next five years. The shift toward online shopping, compounded by inflation, tariffs, and high commercial rent, is reshaping how Americans shop.
Department stores have been hit especially hard. In recent years:
- Bed Bath & Beyond closed all of its stores and now sells only online.
- Foot Locker announced plans to close up to 400 outlets by 2026.
- Tuesday morning, Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams both filed for bankruptcy.
Meanwhile, retailers like Walmart, Costco, and Home Depot—offering low prices, wide selections, or essential goods—have remained more resilient.
What’s next for JCPenney?
Earlier this year, JCPenney merged with Sparc Group, forming Catalyst Brands, which also owns Eddie Bauer, Aéropostale, Brooks Brothers, Lucky Brand, and Nautica. The goal is to give the struggling department store a new life within a larger portfolio of well-known brands.
But whether this strategy will save stores like Westminster Mall remains uncertain. As the lights go out on November 21, loyal shoppers are left wondering: Is this the beginning of a comeback — or just another chapter in the slow decline of America’s department stores?
