JCPenney plans to permanently close their Sunvalley Mall store in Concord, according to an announcement this morning from the company.
The Concord store is one of 13 closures that were announced today.
JCPenney previously announced 136 store closures on June 17.
Liquidation sales at most closing store locations will begin on July 3.
I can’t help but wonder if that won’t be the death knell for Sun Valley.
It’s an old and tired mall.
Just think of all the condos that could be built there.
The problem with building condos there is who in there right mind would want to pay hundreds of thousands to make a commitment into that area. Rentals, maybe.
I think the best use of Sunvalley is to turn it into an outlet mall. Those actually do bring in customers.
How very sad. Sun Valley used to be such a wonderful family shopping mall. Lots of happy memories.
With the La Veranda so close by, it’s is ruining business.
A dollar store would go well with the atmosphere there.
A regional shopping complex must have anchor tenants.
JCPenney, Sears and Macy’s were the three. With only one left foot traffic is going to be down. An for every job lost three to five other people from companies that proving supportive services are effected.
One left? Which of the other two is also closing?
Dumbvalley Mall is outdated and useless. It is a sad place compared to the old days. It has been getting worse year by year.
They cater to the Gen Z latest trends of foolishmess, nothing quality or worthwhile there anymore.
SECURITY WAS WORTHLESS, each store had to defend themselves from crime. They never stopped the gangs or punks that infested it. Just blamed the store managers and fired them. Doing Nothing to keep it safe for shoppers.
Product loss is what is killing these businesses…
Absolutely not the reason. Online alternatives, poor economy, stores like Target and Walmart, poor brand selection, poor leadership, poor value to customer, etc is what is killing not only JC Penny but other traditional department stores. Also, JC Penny has been struggling for years and had a complete disaster under Ron Johnson with the discontinuation of coupon discounts. In 2019 they posted $300 Million in loses. That is not due to product loss.
@Pyrrhus You are correct! Those reasons are exactly why they are closing so many stores.
@Pyrrhus: Called it perfectly. Ron Johnson completely killed the company. In addition to the other things he did to ruin the company, the customer service has never been the same since his tenure. Two registers open in the entire store at Christmas is a prime case in point! Use to be my go-to place. I tried to complain twice to the manager about their customer service. The manager wouldn’t even come down when called. Don’t step in there at all anymore. Good Riddance.
@Pyrrhus – Nailed it! Also, I wonder how much impact the name change to JCP had on a decrease in sales? I thought that move was plain dumb. Almost just as bad as Kmart ending their Blue Light Specials that shoppers flocked to, including yours truly when I was in a store.
Tear it all down & build a soccer stadium.
Oooo, Even better…. What we really need is something like San Francisco’s homeless navigation center !
No
Tear it all down and put in trees and grass. No buildings.
Internet sales are killing retail sales but making companies like Amazon richer and richer (along with their owners). So, when you lazily order stuff on line – you help make people like Jeff Bezos even more rich (he is the richest man on the planet and pays NO state income tax).
It wouldn’t surprise me to see the mall torn down and the property used for some social engineering experiment (“low” cost housing). Who needs to house more bums around here?
What a waste.
Jed… you are so right.
When’s the closing sale and will we be able to go to the store to shop?
So much theft at the mall inside and out. I no longer feel safe going there as the police don’t do anything to stop the thefts and the DA’s just catch and release and they never go to trial. Those of us that are honest just keep getting hit with the higher prices to cover the losses, just like how we are overtaxed.
That is what happens when society looks the other way and says “oh that is okay for a certain few to do those things”.
Hate to see JC Penney close but society has brought this on themselves.
Hate to say it but jcpenny had every opportunity to do the right thing. They thought they could sell cheap chinese junk and it didn’t work out. Ron Johnson really killed the brand. Maybe we can get a store that respects us enough to sell quality USA made products. Too bad jcpenny like so many others took the path of least resistance for short term gain. Never bet against America you will always lose in the end.
Sad but true. JCPenny used to sell staple clothing. Work clothing, underwear, quality shoes. Over the decades the quality was superseded by cheap. All across America this became first choice. Cheap. We dug our hole.
Put the ice arena back in and the movie theater.
Put up statues around it. That will bring in people.
HAHAHAHAHA!
Turn the mall into a Trade School.
I like it! Maybe a multi use zone. Restaurants, health bars, a safe place for walking seniors. Industrial art center, Ice or skate rink, classic movies, art display. Endless possibilities.
There is a website devoted to deadmalls and lots of photo essays of closed malls with fallen ceiling tiles and weeds growing inside. The 1960s and earlier 70s was a time of the malling of America with developers carrying charts and graphs wanting to redesign us. There are places the malls seemed to be built to purposely kill the surrounding retail, although Sunvalley is not one of those. There is now an industry of designers repurposing malls bringing in mixed condo or non-retail business to fill the square footage. Will be interesting to see what happens here.
Might see a mixed housing/retail development like BART is doing around their stations. Shuttles to Concord BART and DVC might help. I’d say that Broadway Plaza might be able to survive since they have a good mix of nice restaurants and retail and it certainly feels safer than Scum Valley.
Go down the the Dead Mall YouTube Rabbit Hole, I believe one of the original “dead mall” folks Dan Bell did a TED Talk in regards the Dead Malls. It’s much deeper than just the changing retail market, it’s the moving of “funny money” from one shell company to another, the lack of innovation within the mall industry, many so called mergers to save money were nothing more than a game of off loading bad debt and malls between companies to keep the banks happy. Look into the history and shady deals made in the last 10 years with mall owners and the likes of SEARS current ownership. They don’t care about their employees, the areas they serve, or the malls they’re in…it’s all about capitalizing their ROI…
All that being said-I wish Dillard’s would open up a store in SunValley or Stoneridge (another dying mall).
@The REAL just me – RE: Stoneridge Mall. Will be interesting to see what transpires now given that Nordstrom has permanently closed their anchor store there. (Nordstrom has also permanently closed the Sacramento store at Arden Fair Mall.)
@Mary Fouts-Re Stoneridge two other things to note remember Sears closed there about 18 months ago. And IIRC I read that Macy’s sold their Men’s store back to the mall ownership. That’s a mall location that is ripe for a an urban village type setup freeway access and mass transit.
The fall of the mall is due to online experience.Ebay,Amazon,Walmart on line.Low attendance,crime,crazy homeless people and veterans.We focus on too much of all the wrong things.Corona virus has killed many businesses big or small.24 hour fitness would probably dissolve soon,they have a gym in the mall.
tear it down and make a massive prison facility!
No build housing or veterans hospitals and facilities for the lower income people.Use the Concord weapons land for that not a proposed amusement park.
1) People won’t shop where they don’t feel safe
2) They must add new anchor tenants that are contemporary
3) Bring some sort of art and culture to the place. Perhaps art or historical exhibitions that change periodically to keep the public’s interest
4) Add amenities for seniors (Remember Anna Miller’s it was always packed). Seniors still like to shop bricks and mortar, and Walnut Creek Manor is just a short distance.
They can probably fix it cheaper than starting from scratch.
Maybe convince Target to move their Pleasant Hill store to the JC Penney space. The PH store has inadequate parking and it’s difficult to get to.
Malls everywhere are struggling. High income areas like the bay are the best off, but even their days are numbered.
I don’t buy the claim that Amazon/online shopping is the cause. Last time I checked online was still less than 10% of all retail.
I think these retailers have done it to themselves with poor selection, poor quality, and overpriced. Online offers more selection as well as better prices, but I for one would buy clothing and shoes at a physical store if could find what I want/need. Brick & mortar stores are so focused on selling the cheapest stuff with the highest profit that I have to go online. They are driving their customers online.
I completely agree with you. I much prefer buying from a store where I can see and feel the quality the merchandise I’m buying. Unfortunately, more times than not the stores no longer carry much of anything and your forced to online shopping. I will miss Penney’s, but they have gone down hill in quality over the years. Sadden by the news. I’d hate to see the mall close up.
Malls might be struggling, but I don’t see them going away. I work at Macy’s at Sun Valley Mall, just transferred there in November from Macy’s at Stanford Mall Palo Alto. The Palo Alto store, we were always, busy, really busy or crazy busy. Sun Valley mall we are usually quite busy, especially on week ends, but not as busy as Stanford. I returned to work on June 18, and mostly worked in handbags and very busy most of the time.
We were just closed for 3 months and although the internet sales went up they no way replaced the store sales. Even when people buy on the internet, the often return or exchange it. It is really hard to duplicate the exact color, size etc. on line. Macy’s online and store prices are not always the same, but if the online prices are less, we will match that price. As for J.C. Penny I never shopped there much, I just found their clothing very outdated in terms of fashion. Even before I worked at Macy’s I bought most of my clothing, handbags, fashion jewelry there. When Kohl’s opened up, I would buy things there at times, their prices were good, and items more fashionable than Penny’s.
Metro Center, a very large Mall in Phoenix just announced they were closing the Mall after 47 years. Same situation as Sun Valley. No big retailers. Be interesting to see what the City does with that massive beast and how they redevelop it. Might give others ideas on how to recycle mall property like Sun Valley.
Good riddance to the stores selling overpriced ultra cheap stuff
I guess you don’t shop much. I’m a little prejudice since I work at Macy’s, but we really have great prices. On most week ends you will find lost of items reduced 40%, with another 25% discount if you have a Macy’s card. If you don’t there is usually a promo code that gives you another 20%, which we give to you automatically. We also have a whole area in every department where everything is 70 to 80% off the original price. We have many loyal customers that appreciate the selection and discounts. I’m a clothes horse, and since I work in fashion I need to present a certain “look” I have no problem finding quality and fashionable things to wear at Macy”.
Alfani, Inc, JM Collection, DKNY, Calvin Klein, handbags Coach and Michael Kors, not a great fan of Michael Kors, but love Coach.
So this is major, as it’s one of the chain’s bigger stores. This tells me two things… JC Penny is facing troubled times for their entire business, and the Sun Valley Mall is going to be impacted. I seriously doubt Sears will hang in there for the long term. The only other major tenant is Macy’s. This could be the start of even worse times at the mall.
I’m going to miss buying pajama bottoms at JC Penny’s around Christmas. Guess I’ll have to obtain those online (or) start going to Kohl’s
Look for more store closures in the coming months at Sun Valley, Broadway in Walnut Creek, and strip malls. This is *not* going to be a good year for business or employment.
Haven’t Sears and Penney’s been closing their stores for a long time.
My mom loves Sears and Pennys. But she cut up her credit cards for both those stores years ago.
Not so great was trying to get Sears to stop sending her new credit cards. After she closed the account.
Wait, you think this is just NOW the sign Penney’s is in trouble??? Where’s the cave you’ve been living in? The writing was on the wall 20 years ago but they still could have survived, but their fate was sealed about 10 years ago when Ackman/Pershing Square put Ron Johnson in as CEO, and he promptly killed the company. They’ve simply been in the death throes ever since.
I wouldn’t hold my breath for many closures in Broadway Plaza. They are mostly high end stores, that sell their specific brands. Not including Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom , or Macy’s. Broadway Plaza is also a large destination shopping place, and bus loads of people are brought in to spend the day. Personally, I didn’t expect Neiman Marcus to last a year there, with their outlandish prices. But I was definitely wrong.
I meant JC Penny is facing greater trouble more quickly than I anticipated. Who would have thought JC Penny would fold before Sears at the mall? Sure the chain has debt, but the Sun Valley Mall location did great business, and I don’t think people realize it’s one of the larger JC Penny stores in the entire chain, at least for a regular JC Penny’s. I know the chain was closing stores, but I thought they would have hung on much longer, at least at our location. I would have thought it would have been among the last stores to close. I’m guessing it won’t be much longer for the entire chain. That was my point.
I’m well aware of the whole Ron Johnson debacle. He accelerated their downfall, but they were in a downfall before he arrived.
As far as closures in Broadway… they’re already started happening. Forever 21, Everything But Water, there’s another store that I can’t remember… Neiman Marcus filed for bankruptcy last month.
NO- I’m so bummed. They have a good selection of wide width shoes that I would order online and pick up at this store. I found the quality to be better than Macy’s and they were reasonably priced. This is a big loss for Sunvalley Mall. Wonder how long Macys will last.
I don’t think the quality was better than Macy’s, perhaps some items. Frankly I think the problems was almost all of their merchandised look outdated in terms of fashion. I’m older, but I still like to look fashionable, as do most of my girl friends, I don’t know anyone that has shopped at Penny’s in ages. Since I work at Macy’s I buy 95% of my clothes, handbags, jewelry, bedding and gifts there. Also I believe Macy’s have better prices, if you know what department to shop in, and how to use the coupons, and shop when they have sales.
😪
Neiman Marcus filed for bankruptcy on May 7, 2020.
who can afford it anymore anyway?
It always struck me when shopping for clothes in the mall that there are only a few items that I like. And judging by the fact that I can’t find my size in them those are the same items that everyone likes. But all the other ugly crap just sits there and never sells.
It’s very hard to find a men’s clothing or shoe store where all the items are nice and for a good price and they have it in stock. I’m shifting more so to online. I just bought six pairs of Nike/new balance/ puma shoes online for less than $300 that would’ve cost way more in the mall. And guess what they had them all in my size! Free shipping free returns
I agree. When it was time to purchase either clothes or items, they were out of my size or choice. They overstocked on extra large of every item. They have P. O. S. Systems hooked up to their computers, yet still couldn’t figure out that certain items were sold out quickly. They should have caught this problem earlier. By earlier, I mean 1990 when I gave up shopping at their store.
Sears and Macy’s are next. It’s quite the shame. The big question is what will go in there next, the answer is whichever developer gives the Concord city council the biggest kickbacks!
Penny’s was one of the few stores in Scum Valley Mall I still frequented. I prefer to try on clothing, rather than order online but I guess I’ll have to go to the Amazon from now on.
When suburban malls started catering to the gangs and low-life’s, they really went downhill fast. Too bad. Maybe strip malls will make a comeback?
Maybe Taubman would like to sell the property to Elon Musk.
Tesla factory anyone?
Entire mall should be gutted and turned into an open air outlet mall, and counter the abortion that is Veranda. Down in SoCal they know how to do outdoor malls right, Irvine Spectrum is the crown jewel but there are many others much smaller in scale yet same design concept. They’re basically small villages, where it’s typically central plaza areas with patios, benches, fountains, shady walkways, which is encircled by the stores, with parking being OUTSIDE all of that.
Essentially everything that Veranda is NOT…if you, say, eat at Yardhouse then want to go to Gap, because this dump was designed by morons, you’ve got to walk like half a mile, and if it’s even just a “warm” day you’re getting fried. And then there’s the idiotic theater with no snack bar and constant distractions from wait staff serving food to people DURING THE MOVIE.
Interesting you bring up the outdoor mall concept, many mall owners are now doing that back East. You’ll also look around and see two of the most profitable area malls are outdoor or somewhat outdoor style malls- Broadway Plaza and Stanford Shopping Center.
Yeah, who knew freaking ANTIOCH was ahead of the times with County East Mall which was open air way back in the 70s, but then circa 1990 they enclosed it. Of course when it was “open” it wasn’t the design concept we’re talking about now, but it was open.
Open air just makes sense, I loved the 70s-80s (enclosed) mall culture but it’s DEAD. People like to be inside a store, then if they exit they’re now outside in fresh air, but not like dumba&@ Veranda where you’re totally exposed to the elements. That’s why intelligent designs have things like big “sail shades” and the like for shade, courtyards/patios with greenery and fountains where people can eat lunch or an ice cream they just bought. I know I harp on it but just can’t believe the wasted opportunity at Veranda to make something totally cool instead of such a stupid lame design…”well just finished up at Xfinity store, now to get over to Old Navy I have to risk my life walking through this giant idiotic parking lot.”
Just kidding about soccer stadium…. but the Oakland A’s would be welcome!
I think you take these old malls and convert them into retirement villages. The folks that are getting older grew up in these malls. The malls were the place to be. My thought ….if I was a rich developer…..The top floors should be apartments or condos. The bottom floor still retail and restaurants, open to all. Somewhere in the middle should have an urgent care and assisted living apartments. And some of the parking lot can be made into a 9 hole golf course, spa, gym, park and pool. Just a thought…
That is the absolute best concept.
Sam and AnimalLover let’s find a way to make this happen! :). Sunvalley could be the first one. Their are so many other malls going out of business and the population is growing older. This is a way for our older population to have a safe place to live with in their means.
Went to Sun Valley today. Bought pants at Sears, which had a total of 2 customers (counting myself). Not a lot of customers in the mall itself. Also, half of the stores were not open.
Sears is likely next. (Hilltop Mall Sears went out of business for good when the pandemic started) I would think Macy’s may soon follow,
They will turn that space into corporate offices. No shortage of desperate business operations to move into “cheaper” locations.
Malls belong to a different era and that ship has sailed. They are perceived by those who govern as unsustainable and wasteful. New paradigms in retail are emerging. Some are being forced on the public and those may not work. Those who were paying attention post 2008 should have seen this coming. It just needs to be fair for everyone.
There should be an overpass or a tunnel built to connect The Veranda,Sunvalley Mall and The Willows. Just a thought.
You beat me to that idea. Was just about to type the exact same thing. Tunnel.
Love it
The homeless that live on the freeway banks and in the creek between Sunvalley and The Willows / Veranda likely also would be very enthusiastic about a tunnel and slightly less so about an overpass.
There is a pedestrian tunnel under highway 242 at https://goo.gl/maps/e5pKQLLAUeNYEfRD9 I’ve never understood why it’s there given that Willow Pass Road is a block or two to the north and has pedestrian sidewalks.
The veranda used to be a business park which could not sustain itself and became a shopping plaza. I fear that if Sunvalley mall closes it’s going to become overpriced high-rise condos like the stupid transit villages and the rest of concord. I always wonder what idiots live in those? I guarantee they pay more than the house I rent out in Concord I always wonder what idiots live in those?
Probably idiots who wants to own something, they might pay more, but they own something. I have owned real estate in the Bay Area since 1976, Marin, Foster City and Benicia, I have never lost money on owning. I don’t own right now, I have owned to 2 houses, with my ex husband one in Marin and one in Foster City, I have owned a townhouse in Foster City and a condo in Benicia, often elderly and single people don’t want a yard to take care of. Is it really necessary to call someone idiots because they prefer different housing than you? They just have a different lifestyle.
The writing is on the wall. Convert it to a mini-Santana Row with mix Of retail, residential and a hotel. Tunnel under the freeway for pedestrian access to the Veranda and Willows shopping center. If the retail does not workout office space. Should be good news for future DVC students Who will get housing close by.
Concord State Prison
15% of Concord’s population could just move right in.
108RS
The same thing will happen here that happened to eastmont Mall in Oakland. When Mervyn’s and Penny’s left, there was really nothing else there. That mall is now existing as nothing more than a big empty building with a few overpriced shops. whenever I go into sun Valley, the only thing I see are expensive places that are selling junk. $39 for a baseball cap?
Sorry no thanks. And if you try to convert this into some sort of outdoor common area, the only thing you’re going to get is crime.
The main anchor at Eastmont Mall is now a OPD station. (I believe it is where Penney’s was.)
I worked at Jcpenney there for some time. I did loss prevention/assets protection. The policy is so messed up, and literally every second the stores open stuff is walking out the door and we couldn’t do anything about it. I would be watching the men’s Levi or men’s shoes on camera. I would see someone cut the tags off of slip a pair on and nope I couldn’t call the police because policy is you can not. You have to customer service the hell outta people before they leave and you can attempt to apprehend the thief but it’s hands off and you basically lie your ass off saying the police are on there way and they have to come with you. Sometimes it worked most times it didn’t. And if you apprehended someone and they wanted to leave during the process policy says you have to let them. Jcpenney is pathetic and the reason it is closing stores is because they don’t do anything to people stealing stuff. I wrote thousands of dollars in theft reports when I was there and I finally had to find another job because I couldn’t stand watching merchandise walk out the door and not being able to do anything about it.
all great comments
you forgot that over the last 30 years the democrat run state has pushed out all of the middle class who was shopping on a regular basis
they had good jobs and worked hard and spent well
but were hard to control for the democrats as they often voted elsewhere not following the dem agenda of welfare and unemployment as well as the pandering to criminals
so again the demise of the state is not amazon or climate change or the facebook or even corporate fools
over taxing and getting nothing from it is tearing down this state ….
you want to know what will go there ……low income highrises …yes the starting of the projects buildings
lots of money in demise and easier to control the votes
once they drive out the hard working people with their own goals and futures past welfare and unemployment the cycle will be complete and your utopia of praising the democrat agenda will be completed …..
you have done well to turn a sunny california into a despot of control and welfare all for votes ……after that they will divide the state and rid the electoral college and go to a popular vote …..just like oppressed countries …..again great job
Loved the mall as a kid in the 70s. We’d spend all day there, ice skating, going to movies, eating at the food court. My first job was at Hickory Farms. My mom loved shopping at Penneys, getting her hair done there, until she had her purse snatched in the parking lot. It’s seen better days.