New-Look JC Penney Debuts in New Jersey

The women's department in the new JCPenney in New Jersey's Willowbrook Mall. Photo: Courtesy of JCPenney

A former Lord & Taylor department store at a New Jersey mall has been reborn as a JCPenney (Plano, Texas), NJ Biz reports. The new, two-level store is in the Willowbrook Mall in Wayne, and replaces the chain’s longtime location at the nearby Wayne Towne Center. It is the historic brand’s first new locale in eight years.

At the Brookfield Properties-owned mall, JCPenney is taking over a 120,000-square-foot anchor spot left vacant after Lord & Taylor closed three years ago as part of a Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Discount retailer Shopper’s Find replaced Lord & Taylor before closing in late 2022.

The revitalized JC Penney is part of a $1 billion internally generated reinvestment strategy the retailer unveiled last summer that aims to enhance customer engagement and driving sustainable growth. The initiative includes enhanced digital capabilities, in-store physical and technology upgrades, and merchandising/supply chain updates.

Founded in 1902, the department store chain has 663 stores in the U.S. and Puerto Rico.

VMSD Staff

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