JCP is about the only “quality” clothing store option within 1 hr of where we live. Alternatives include Walmart, Goodwill and Salvation Army.
Mrs NHD has gone there a few times over the past several weeks. What were standard items are now gone from the shelves. We expect it to be closed within, at most, months.
Actually, the reason those items are missing is because those labels are being discontinued. Over the next two years, St. John’s Bay, Towncraft, East 5th, Amercian Living and other JCP exclusive lines are being discontinued and will be replaced with other brand names.
St. John’s Bay will become JCP. American Living was a line created for JCP by Ralph Lauren which never sold at the “retail” price and only sold when clearanced out.
The idea is to lessen the number of brands carried and to reduce merchandise on the floor in order to create a “boutique” feel within the store.
Some lines, such as Liz Claiborne, Izod and Worthington lines will be expanded. Other will be added, such as the Mango for women and Buffalo jeans for juniors.
I am not saying this is going to work, but the “empty” shelves are from the company emptying their warehouses of those brands which are being discontinued. For three weeks, there have been $4.00 and item in store sales to get rid of these items.