PLANO, Tx.  — Retail giant JC Penney announced it is closing six Kentucky stores as part of its "store optimization strategy." The six in Kentucky are part of 154 store closure in what the company labels the first phase. A Texas bankruptcy court will hear the order to close on June 11 and stores will begin having store closing sales. Those sales are expected to last 10 to 16 weeks.

What You Need To Know


  • 6 JC Penney stores closing in Kentucky

  • Total of 154 in first phase of closures

  • Retailer filed bankruptcy in May

JC Penney is evaluating all of its stores and plans to close more focusing resources on the ones performing strongest and jcp.com. Earlier the company said it would permanently close 242 stores nationwide. 

“While closing stores is always an extremely difficult decision, our store optimization strategy is vital to ensuring we emerge from both Chapter 11 and the COVID-19 pandemic as a stronger retailer with greater financial flexibility to allow us to continue serving our loyal customers for decades to come,” said Jill Soltau, chief executive officer of JCPenney. 

JCPenney filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 15. The coronavirus pandemic had a serious effect on sales leaving the 118-year-old company dealing with a mountain of debt.

The stores closing in Kentucky are:

  • Bradford Square      4000 Ft Campbell Blvd.,              Hopkinsville 
  • Danville Manor        1560 Houstonville Rd Ste 301,     Danville KY
  • Green River Plaza    399 Campbellsville Bypass         Campbellsville KY
  • Market Square         US 68 S and AA Hwy.                 Maysville KY
  • Middlesboro Mall      905 N 12th St., Ste 10                Middlesboro KY
  • Town Square Mall     5000 Frederica St.                    Owensboro KY

You can see a list of all 154 closing stores here.