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JCPenney closed its Springfield Town Center store in late May, leaving a major vacancy at a shopping center where the department store had operated since 1973.
The closure followed a weak Christmas shopping season and declining sales. Catalyst Brands, formed through the January 2025 combination of JCPenney and SPARC Group, said it could not continue under the store’s existing lease terms or find a suitable nearby location.
The Springfield store is reportedly among 138 JCPenney locations closing.
JCPenney was one of the original anchors when the property opened as Springfield Mall in 1973. The store stood near Orange Bowl Pizza, the Time Out arcade and a plaza that hosted the Miss Springfield pageant for several years.
Montgomery Ward served as the mall’s other anchor at the opposite end.
No replacement has been announced for the large JCPenney space. Possible future uses include entertainment, fitness facilities or a collection of restaurants.