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TennesseePhotographer/istockphoto

JCPenney is unloading 119 store properties in a $947 million deal — but not because it’s shutting them down. The retailer handed off its real estate years ago when it filed for bankruptcy in 2020, and this is just the latest round of selling. 

The properties are owned by Copper Property CTL Pass Through Trust, which was created specifically to help pay off creditors after JCPenney’s collapse.

Are Any Stores Closing?

Kokomo - Circa July 2020: J.C. Penney store. JCPenney filed for bankruptcy protection and is closing many locations.
jetcityimage/istockphoto

All 119 locations are net-leased, meaning JCPenney is still on the hook for rent and operating costs — and still running the stores. 

Customers aren’t likely to notice anything different. There would also be no layoffs, nor closures.

Who Is Buying Them Out?

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simarik/istockphoto

The buyer is Onyx Partners, a private equity firm based in Boston. According to the trust, Onyx won the bid thanks to its cash offer and ability to close quickly. The sale is expected to wrap by September 8.

Where Are The Stores Located?

Fairfax, USA - March 13, 2018: JCPenney department outlet, retail store, shop in Fair Oaks indoor shopping mall in northern Virginia, entrance, facade, display, hangers, interior, people walking
ablokhin/istockphoto

The properties are spread across 35 states, but Texas (21) and California (19) hold the biggest share. The total square footage clocks in at over 16 million, according to brokerage firm Newmark, which managed the sale.

About half of the locations are in fast-growing Sunbelt markets, with stores near big cities like Austin, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, and New York. Newmark called the portfolio “strategically located,” which mostly means: lots of suburban malls.

Where Is the Money Going?

Forever 21
zodebala/istockphoto

The trust says it expects to distribute between $928 million and $932 million from the sale. JCPenney doesn’t see a dime of it — it just stays on as a tenant, continuing operations under Catalyst Brands, which also owns Aéropostale, Forever 21, and a few other mall staples.

Read on for a complete list of the stores that are being sold.

Arizona

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dlewis33/istockphoto
  • The Mall at Turtle Creek: 3000 E Highland Dr Ste 516, Jonesboro, AR
  • Shackleford Crossing: 2600 S Shackleford Rd, Little Rock, AR

Arkansas

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DCorn/istockphoto
  • Arrowhead Towne Center: 7750 W Arrowhead Towne Center, Glendale, AZ
  • Superstition Springs Mall: 6525 E Southern Ave, Mesa, AZ
  • Yuma Palms Regional Center: 1375 S Yuma Palms Pkwy, Yuma, AZ
  • Palm Valley Cornerstone: 13333 W Mcdowell Rd, Goodyear, AZ

California

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JasonDoiy/istockphoto
  • Solano Town Center: 1330 Travis Blvd, Fairfield, CA 
  • Westfield Plaza Bonita: 3040 Plaza Bonita Rd, National City, CA 
  • Glendale Galleria: 1169 Glendale Galleria, Glendale, CA 
  • Huntington Park CBD: 6420 S Pacific Blvd, Huntington Park, CA 
  • Westfield Santa Anita: 400 S Baldwin Ave, Arcadia, CA 
  • Plaza at West Covina: 1203 Plaza Dr, West Covina, CA 
  • Galleria at Tyler: 3605 Galleria at Tyler, Riverside, CA 
  • Westfield Palm Desert: 72900 Hwy 111, Palm Desert, CA 
  • Westfield North County: 290 E Via Rancho Pkwy, Escondido, CA 
  • The Shops at Montebello: 1600 Town Center Dr, Montebello, CA 
  • Valley Plaza: 2501 Ming Ave, Bakersfield, CA 
  • Antelope Valley Mall: 1131 W Rancho Vista Blvd, Palmdale, CA 
  • Arden Fair Mall: 1695 Arden Way, Sacramento, CA 
  • Brea Mall: 400 Brea Mall, Brea, CA 
  • Pacific View Mall: 377 S Mills Rd, Ventura, CA 
  • Northridge Fashion Center: 9301 Tampa Ave, Northridge, CA 
  • Imperial Valley Mall: 3351 S Dogwood, El Centro, CA 
  • Victoria Gardens: 12399 S Mainstreet, Rancho Cucamonga, CA
  • The Orchard at Slatten Ranch: 4951 Slatten Ranch Rd, Antioch, CA

Colorado

Colorado Springs, Colorado in winter
Colorado Springs, Colorado by David Shankbone ((CC BY-SA))
  • Town Center at Aurora: 14200 E Alameda Ave, Aurora, CO 
  • First & Main Town Center: 3650 New Center Pt, Colorado Springs, CO

Connecticut

Manchester is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut
DenisTangneyJr/istockphoto
  • The Shoppes at Buckland Hills: 344 V Buckland Hills Dr Ste 7000, Manchester, CT 
  • Westfarms Mall: 300 Westfarms Mall, Farmington, CT 
  • Danbury Fair: 7 Backus Ave, Danbury, CT

Florida

Panama City Beach, Florida
RobHainer/istockphoto
  • Westfield Brandon: 331 Brandon Town Center Mall, Brandon, FL 
  • Westfield Countryside: 27001 US Hwy 19 N, Clearwater, FL 
  • Westfield Broward: 8000 W Broward Blvd Ste 900, Plantation, FL 
  • Pembroke Lakes Mall: 11401 Pines Blvd, Pembroke Pines, FL 
  • The Mall at Wellington Green: 10308 W Forest Hill Blvd, Wellington, FL 
  • Pier Park: 206 Bluefish Dr, Panama City Beach, FL

Georgia

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KenWiedemann/istockphoto
  • South Point S/C: 1380 Hwy 20 W, Mcdonough, GA

Iowa

City Center Square in downtown Coralville
Coralville, IA by American007 ((CC BY-SA))
  • Coral Ridge Mall: 1471 Coral Ridge Ave, Coralville, IA

Idaho

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Sean Pavone/istockphoto
  • Boise Towne Square: 300 N Milwaukee St, Boise, ID

Illinois

Daly City, California, USA - May 18, 2011: Very light customer traffic at the JCPenny store in Serramonte Shopping Center in Daly City, California.
Joe_Potato/istockphoto
  • Orland Square: 3 Orland Sq Dr, Orland Park, IL 
  • North Riverside Park Mall: 7507 W Cermak Rd, North Riverside, IL 
  • Hawthorn S/C: Rt 60 & Hwy 21, Vernon Hills, IL 
  • Oakridge Court: 800 S Randall Rd, Algonquin, IL 
  • Mokena Marketplace: 11325 W Lincoln Hwy, Mokena, IL

Indiana

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LindaJoHeilman/istockphoto
  • Hamilton Town Center: 13900 Hoard Dr, Noblesville, IN

Kansas

Overland Park, Kansas, USA - June 17, 2023: Morning traffic passes through the downtown commercial district of Overland Park.
MattGush/istockphoto
  • Oak Park Mall: 11801 W 95Th St, Overland Park, KS

Kentucky

Lafayette - August 10, 2024: JCPenney Department Store. As JCPenney struggles, JCP plans on closing locations.
jetcityimage/istockphoto
  • Florence Mall: 6000 Florence Mall, Florence, KY 
  • Ashland Town Center: 500 Winchester Ave, Ashland, KY

Lousiana

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felixmizioznikov/istockphoto
  • Mall of Louisiana: 6201 Bluebonnet Blvd, Baton Rouge, LA

Massachusetts

Peabody is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States.
DenisTangneyJr/istockphoto
  • Northshore Mall: Rt 114 & 128, Peabody, MA

Maryland

Downtown Baltimore, Maryland
Jon Bilous/istockphoto
  • White Marsh Mall: 8200 Perry Hall Blvd, Baltimore, MD 
  • St Charles Towne Center: 11130 Mall Cir, Waldorf, MD

Michigan

Peek colors in downtown Traverse City Michigan
Gary Ennis/istockphoto
  • Oakland Mall: 700 W 14 Mile Rd, Troy, MI 
  • Lakeside Mall: 14300 Lakeside Cir, Sterling Heights, MI 
  • Twelve Oaks Mall: 27150 Novi Rd, Novi, MI 
  • Grand Traverse Mall: 3300 S Airport Rd W, Traverse City, MI 
  • Rivertown Crossings: 3774 Rivertown Prkwy SW, Grandville, MI 
  • Waterside Marketplace: 50753 Waterside Dr, Chesterfield Township, MI

Minnesota

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LindaJoHeilman/istockphoto
  • Rosedale S/C: 1700 W County Rd B-2, Roseville, MN

Missouri

KCMO with lake
TriggerPhoto/istockphoto
  • Mid Rivers Mall: 4 Mid Rivers Mall, St Peters, MO 
  • The Plaza at Shoal Creek: 8100 N Flintlock Rd, Kansas City, MO

Mississippi

Daytona Beach, Florida-January 22, 2018: Exterior of an older JC PEnney department store. Penney's is falling behind the online retailing revolution.
TennesseePhotographer/istockphoto
  • Southaven Towne Center: 6620 Towne Center Loop Ste E, Southaven, MS

North Carolina

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Sean Pavone/istockphoto
  • The Streets at Southpoint: 6910 Fayetteville Rd Ste 600, Durham, NC

New Hampshire

Salem is a town in Rockingham County, New Hampshire. Salem is a northern suburb of Boston
DenisTangneyJr/istockphoto
  • The Mall at Rockingham Park: 81 Rockingham Park Blvd, Salem, NH

New Jersey

A drone shot of beautiful houses in Freehold, New Jersey, United States in summer
Wirestock/istockphoto
  • Rockaway Townsquare: 305 Mount Hope Ave, Rockaway, NJ
  • Woodbridge Center: 428 Woodbridge Ctr Dr, Woodbridge, NJ 
  • Newport Centre: 10 Mall Dr, W, Jersey City, NJ
  • Freehold Raceway Mall: 3710 Hwy 9, Freehold, NJ

New Mexico

Albuquerque, New Mexico
Faina Gurevich/istockphoto
  • Coronado Center: 6600 Menaul Blvd NE Ste 600, Albuquerque, NM 
  • Cottonwood Mall: 10000 Coors Bypass NW, Albuquerque, NM

Nevada

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Jacob Boomsma/istockphoto
  • Meadowood Mall: 5200 Meadowood Mall Cir, Reno, NV 
  • Meadows Mall: 4400 Meadows Lane, Las Vegas, NV 
  • Galleria at Sunset: 1312 W Sunset Rd, Henderson, NV

New York

Staten Island Ferry
400tmax/istockphoto
  • Gateway Shopping Center: I & II 360 Gateway Dr, Brooklyn, NY 
  • Staten Island Mall: 140 Marsh Ave, Staten Island, NY 
  • The Mall at Bay Plaza: 100 Baychester Ave, Bronx, NY

Ohio

Gettyimages 1196733102
pawel.gaul / Getty
  • SouthPark Center: 17177 Royalton Rd, Strongsville, OH
  • The Mall at Tuttle Crossing: 5083 Tuttle Crossing Blvd, Dublin, OH
  • Polaris Fashion Place: 1450 Polaris Pkwy, Columbus, OH
  • The Shops at Fallen Timbers: 3100 Main St Ste 1000, Maumee, OH
  • Stone Creek Towne Center: 3675 Stone Creek Blvd, Colerain Township, OH

Oklahoma

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA downtown skyline at twilight.
Sean Pavone/istockphoto
  • Center at Owasso: 9056 N 121st East Ave, Owasso, OK
  • Penn Square Mall: 1901 NW Expwy Ste 1200, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Shops at Moore: 2400 S Service Rd, Moore, OK

Oregon

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Kativ/istockphoto
  • Clackamas Town Center: 12300 SE 82Nd Ave, Portland (Happy Valley), OR

Pennsylvania

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Shunyu Fan/istockphoto
  • Westmoreland Mall: 5256 Route 30, Greensburg, PA
  • The Mall at Robinson T/C: 2000 Robinson Town Ctr, Pittsburgh, PA
  • High Pointe Commons: 4680 High Pointe Blvd, Harrisburg, PA

Puerto Rico

JCPenney Puerto Rico
Nilsa G. / Yelp
  • Mayaguez Mall: 975 AV. Eugenio Maria De Hostos, Ste 320, Mayaguez, PR
  • Plaza Centro: 200 Avenida Rafael Cordero, Ste 111, Caguas, PR

Tennessee

Downtown Memphis skyline aerial view with the Hernando De Soto bridge and the Mississippi River and Mud Island in the foreground.
Dee Liu/istockphoto
  • Wolfchase Galleria: 2756 N Germantown Pkwy, Memphis, TN
  • Stones River Mall: 1720 Old, Fort Pkwy, Murfreesboro, TN

Texas

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DenisTangneyJr/istockphoto
  • Mall Del Norte: 5300 San Dario, Laredo, TX
  • Golden Triangle Mall: 2201 S Interstate 35 E Ste D, Denton, TX
  • Midland Park Mall: 4511 N Midkiff Rd, Midland, TX
  • Killeen Mall: 2100 S W S Young Dr Ste 2000, Killeen, TX
  • Valle Vista Mall: 2006 S Expy 83, Harlingen, TX
  • Post Oak Mall: 1500 Harvey Rd, College Station, TX
  • New Braunfels T/C at Creekside: 215 Creekside Way, New Braunfels, TX
  • The Parks at Arlington: 3851 S Cooper St, Arlington, TX
  • Lakeline Mall: 11200 Lakeline Mall Dr, Cedar Park, TX
  • First Colony Mall: 16529 Southwest Frwy, Sugarland, TX
  • Deerbrook Mall: 20131 Hwy 59N Ste 3000, Humble, TX
  • Sunrise Mall: 2370 N Expwy Ste 2000, Brownsville, TX
  • Baybrook Mall: 100 Baybrook Mall, Friendswood, TX
  • Fairmont Center: 5120 Fairmont Pkwy, Pasadena, TX
  • Southpark Meadows S/C: 9500 S Ih-35 Ste H, Austin, TX
  • Alliance Town Center: 3001 Texas Sage Trl, Fort Worth, TX
  • Waxahachie Towne Center Crossing: 1441 N Hwy 77, Waxahachie, TX
  • El Mercado Plaza: 1950 Joe Battle Blvd, El Paso, TX
  • Sherman Town Center: 610 Graham Dr, Sherman, TX
  • Teas Crossing: 3165 Interstate 45 N, Conroe, TX
  • The Shops at Stone Park: 5858 E Sam Houston Pkwy N, Houston, TX

Virginia

Hampton Virginia: December 16 2023: Aerial View of Downtown Hampton Along the Hampton River in Virginia
Kyle Little/istockphoto
  • Southpark Mall: 6 Southpark Mall, Colonial Hts, VA
  • Peninsula Town Center: 2071 Coliseum Dr, Hampton, VA

Washington

Bellingham is the most populous city in, and county seat of Whatcom County in the US state of Washington. It lies 21 miles south of the US–Canada border in between two major cities of the Pacific Northwest: Vancouver and Seattle.
samvaltenbergs/istockphoto
  • Westfield Southcenter: 1249 Southcenter Mall, Tukwila, WA
  • Columbia Center: 1321 N Columbia Ctr Blvd #100, Kennewick, WA
  • Bellis Fair: 10 Bellis Fair Pkwy, Bellingham, WA

Wisconsin

Indianapolis - Circa May 2020: J. C. Penney store. JCPenney filed for bankruptcy protection and is closing many locations.
jetcityimage/istockphoto
  • Fox River Mall: 4301 W Wisconsin Ave, Appleton, WI

Meet the Writer

Alex Andonovska is a staff writer at Cheapism and MediaFeed, based in Porto, Portugal. With 12 years of writing and editing at places like VintageNews.com, she’s your go-to for all things travel, food, and lifestyle. Alex specializes in turning “shower thoughts” into well-researched articles and sharing fun facts that are mostly useless but sure to bring a smile to your face. When she’s not working, you’ll find her exploring second-hand shops, antique stores, and flea markets.