Downtown El Paso store among 138 JC Penney locations set to close

For the first time on Friday, J.C. Penney listed the 138 locations it will shutter in the coming months as the retailer seeks to cut costs and improve its profitability.

Among the stores slated for closure, the JC Penney in Downtown El Paso. JC Penney’s store at Cielo Vista Mall and the one in Far East El Paso are not on the list.

Like other department stores, J.C. Penney Co. is hurting as more people shop online instead of heading to the mall.

The closures are part of the company’s previously announced plans to focus on its best-performing stores. About 5,000 jobs will be cut due to the closures, J.C. Penney said.

The company had about 105,000 full and part-time employees last year.

Nine stores will close in Texas, the most of any state. Eight will close in Minnesota and seven will be shut in both Michigan and Pennsylvania.

Liquidation sales at the 138 stores will start next month, and most of the stores will be shut by mid-June, the company said.

The closings will leave J.C. Penney with a total of about 900 stores.