Grand Junction Awaits Fate of JC Penney Store At Mesa Mall

JC Penney has filed for bankruptcy and is permanently closing more than a fourth of its stores.

According to USA Today, the company plans to close 192 stores this year and another 50 in the next fiscal year, leaving 604 remaining locations. Currently, there are 13 JC Penney Stores in Colorado, including one in Grand Junction and one in Montrose. Aside from the one in Durango, the other stores are on the front range.

The list of store closings has not yet been released. So, for now, Grand Junction waits to hear the fate of its JC Penney store at Mesa Mall. The clothing and housewares retailer has managed to survive at the mall while other big box stores have closed down in recent years including Sears, Herberger's, Mervyn's, and Sports Authority.

Obviously, Mesa Mall is already struggling. The Grand Junction mall was shut down along with other local retailers because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The mall reopened for one day when retailers were given the green light to open back up at limited capacity, but then once again closed its doors. A message on the Mesa Mall website says "The safety of our guests, retailers, and employees is our top priority. We will be temporarily closed until further notice."

We'll keep our fingers crossed that the JC Penney stores in both Grand Junction and Montrose will survive the cuts. It would be a shame to lose either one.