J.C. Penney Bankruptcy Shutters CT Store

DANBURY, CT — The J.C. Penney store at the Danbury Fair Mall dodged a bullet this week as the venerable retailer announced it would be shuttering 154 of its stores, but the Danbury operation was not on the list.

The J.C. Penney in Torrington was not so lucky. The 118-year-old chain announced that the Torrington Commons anchor would be among the retail operations turning off the lights over the next 10 to 16 weeks.

"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," Jill Soltau, J.C. Penney chief executive officer, said in a statement.

The company first announced its bankruptcy plans in May, reporting its intention to close permanently about 200 of its 850 stores.

The closing leaves six J.C. Penney stores open in Connecticut, including the one in Danbury:

• Danbury Fair Mall, 7 Backus Avenue, Danbury
• Trumbull Parking Park, 5065 Main Street, Trumbull
• Brass Mill Center, 525 Union Street, Waterbury
• Westfarms Mall, 300 Westfarms Mall, Farmington
• Shoppes @ Buckland, 344 V Buckland Hills Drive, Manchester
• Crystal Mall, 850 Hartford Pike, Waterford

"We will continue to operate the majority of our stores and our flagship store, jcp.com, to ensure our valued customers continue to have access to the products and brands they need and want. Please see below for a list of closing locations," the company posted on its website.