We saw this coming, ever since JCPenney CEO Ron Johnson’s stupid policy to court homosexuals by hiring Ellen Degeneris to be the family store’s spokeslesbian, and featuring lesbians (two moms) and gay men (two dads) in its Mother’s Day and Father’s Day ads.
Why was the policy stupid?
Because the policy alienated many Christians, who still comprise a majority of the U.S. population, whereas homosexuals are a mere 2% of the population.
Although JCPenney finally but belatedly fired Johnson, the damage was done.
Krystina Gustafson reports for CNBC, Jan. 15, 2014, that the struggling department store J.C. Penney announced today it will close 33 underperforming stores and slash 2,000 jobs, in a measure it says will generate annual savings of approximately $65 million.
Penney shares fell 0.9% to $6.95 in after-hours trading.
JCPenney CEO Myron Ullman said: “As we continue to progress toward long-term profitable growth, it is necessary to reexamine the financial performance of our store portfolio and adjust our national footprint accordingly.”
Blah. Blah. Blah.
Here are the 33 stores that will be closed, arranged by the states they’re in:
- Alabama: Selma Mall, Selma
- California: Arrow Plaza, Rancho Cucamonga
- Colorado: Chapel Hills Mall, Colorado Springs
- Connecticut: Meriden Square, Meriden
- Florida: Lake Square Mall, Leesburg
- Florida: Gulf View Square, Port Richey
- Iowa: Muscatine Mall, Muscatine
- Illinois: Stratford Square Mall, Bloomingdale
- Illinois: Hickory Point Mall, Forsyth
- Indiana: Five Points Mall, Marion
- Indiana: Market Place Shopping Center, Warsaw
- Maryland: The Centre at Salisbury, Salisbury
- Michigan: Westwood Plaza, Marquette
- Minnesota: Northland Mall, Worthington
- Mississippi: Singing River Mall, Gautier
- Mississippi: Natchez Mall, Natchez
- Montana: Butte Plaza Shopping Center, Butte
- Montana: N/A, Cut Bank
- North Carolina: Vernon Park Mall, Kinston
- New Jersey: Burlington Center, Burlington
- New Jersey: Phillipsburg Mall, Phillipsburg
- Ohio: Wayne Towne Plaza, Wooster
- Pennsylvania: Exton Square Mall, Exton
- Pennsylvania: Laurel Mall, Hazleton
- Pennsylvania: Washington Mall, Washington
- Tennessee: Northgate Mall, Chattanooga
- Virginia: Bristol Mall, Bristol
- Virginia: Military Circle Mall, Norfolk
- Wisconsin: Forest Mall, Fond Du Lac
- Wisconsin: Janesville Mall, Janesville
- Wisconsin: Lincoln Plaza Center, Rhinelander
- Wisconsin: Cedar Mall, Rice Lake
- Wisconsin: Wausau Mall, Wausau