Grants Pass, Ore. — JCPenney is closing 138 stores across the nation.
Among them is the store in Grants Pass.
“It’s just sad that another store is biting the bullet,” Grants Pass resident Robert Westfall said.
Robert Westfall lives right down the street from the Grants Pass JCPenney.
He says he’ll be sad to see it close.
“I grew up with JCPenney, and ya know, it’s so close to where we live,” Westfall said.
The store in Grants Pass is one of five closing in Oregon.
JCPenney says the closures come from losing market share to off-price competitors and online retailers like Amazon.
Westfall says while he’s disappointed, he’s not surprised.
“I can believe it… because I mean you never see a whole lot of business,” Westfall said.
JCPenney expects to save nearly $200 million a year by closing these locations, but roughly 5,000 jobs will be effected by the closures.
Westfall says he’s concerned for those who will soon be without a job.
“There’s not enough jobs ya know… and this closing just adds to the worry,” Westfall said.
There’s no word how many people will lose their jobs at the JCPenney in Grants Pass, but the department of employment says it’s fully prepared to help those that lose their job from the closure.
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