The J.C. Penney store at the Orchards Mall in Benton Harbor is slated to close July 5th.
It is one of 24 locations to close in the U.S. in the second quarter of 2019. Fifteen are full stores. Nine are home and furniture locations.
J.C. Penney was the last remaining anchor store at the Orchards Mall after Carson’s closed in April of last year and Sears left in 2009. The mall itself has long had financial problems. Tax and bill problems
with the city led to the water being shut off and occupancy being revoked temporarily last June.
It was sold at auction late last year. Its new owners took control in November.
J.C. Penney has been facing similar problems that other department stores like Sears are facing. As online retailers gain market share over brick-and-mortar retailers, mall locations are struggling to compete. Penney’s also went through a round of closures two years ago, shuttering 140 stores.
So far 27 stores have closed or have been scheduled to close in 2019.