J.C. Penney Bankruptcy Could Affect White Marsh Store: Report

NOTTINGHAM, MD — The iconic retailer J.C. Penney Co. is preparing to file for bankruptcy, as the new coronavirus continues to take a toll on brick-and-mortar retailers, Reuters reported. The report said the department store chain will close permanently about 200 of its 850 stores, but it’s unclear if the store in the White Marsh Mall will be included.

The J.C. Penney store in the White Marsh Mall is at 8200 Perry Hall Boulevard.

Since March, the store has been temporarily closed due to the governor's shuttering of businesses deemed nonessential to prevent the spread of the new coronavirus.

The 118-year-old chain based in Plano, Texas, was struggling before the business shutdowns associated with the pandemic. The company has about $4 billion in debt and has been edged out of the marketplace by e-commerce companies and discount brick-and-mortar stores, Reuters said.

J.C. Penney would be the third major retailer to seek bankruptcy protection since the pandemic began. The J. Crew Group filed for bankruptcy earlier this month, and Neiman Marcus said last week it was turning its business over to creditors who provided the company with $675 million in financing to continue operations.

As J.C. Penney navigates bankruptcy proceedings, the company is working with creditors for a “debtor-in-possession loan,” according to the Reuters report.

People can still shop J.C. Penney online.

Read the full J.C. Penney report on Reuters.

— By Beth Dalbey and Elizabeth Janney

See Also:

• J. Crew, Which Has 4 Stores In MD, Files For Bankruptcy
• Sears To Close 3 More Stores In Maryland
• Motherhood Maternity Closes White Marsh Store