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JCPenney Co.

Future of JCPenney in Batavia in doubt after chain announces plans to close up to 140 stores

By Howard B. Owens

National retailer JCPenney reported today a continued decline in sales and as a result the intention to close from 130 to 140 stores nationwide.

The list of stores that will be closed has not been released, so we don't know yet if the Batavia location will be on the chopping block.

The Batavia store has survived a previous round of JCPenney's cost-cutting.

According to Reuters, JCPenney continues to struggle in an era of dying shopping malls and increased competition from online retailers.

The store in Batavia is the lone anchor tenant of the long-struggling City Centre Mall in Downtown.

City Manager Jason Molino told WBTA, “We just spoke with JCPenney as early as last week. They did not relay that message to us and they did not tell us that was going to be the case, so as far as we know that is new news or it's nothing that I can confirm.”

Give to needy children and seniors this Christmas

By Billie Owens

JCPenney Co. and The Salvation Army have joined forces this Christmas season to give joy to people in need through a grand-scale online Angel Giving Tree program.

Up until Dec. 14, customers can adopt needy children and seniors and shop online for Christmas gifts for them at www.jcp.com/angel.

The new online Angel Giving Tree program builds on the legacy of The Salvation Army's Angel Tree program, where people would pick the name of someone in need and buy a gift for him or her.

The online Angel Giving Tree program allows customers to adopt an Angel at jcp.com/angel and conveniently shop for them online at jcp.com, in JCPenney stores or at any location they choose. In a few easy steps, customers can visit the site to request an Angel by location, age range and gender. An Angel who matches the criteria will be e-mailed to the customer along with a list of needed items. The confirmation e-mail will
also include a link to view drop-off locations in the customer's area and ship-to addresses for online orders.

In collaboration with FedEx Ground, Angel Giving Tree gifts purchased through jcp.com can be shipped free of charge to any one of the 1,200 Salvation Army collection centers nationwide -- putting the entire selection, shopping and delivery process at the customer's fingertips.

"We appreciate this opportunity to inspire the American public to make a better Christmas for the millions of children and seniors living in poverty," said Major George Hood, national community relations and development secretary for The Salvation Army. One small gift can bring joy to a Salvation Army Angel this Christmas."

"In a year when so many need help, the new online Angel Giving Tree program will extend our reach and make it easier for our customers and associates to give back this holiday season," said Mike Boylson, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for JCPenney. "By leveraging the strength of jcp.com, we are helping to modernize an American tradition -- the Angel Tree program -- and create an innovative way to help families in need in our communities across the nation. Launching this program with The Salvation Army allows us to elevate our support for a cause that is extremely important to our customers and associates, underscoring our focus on the 'Joy of Giving' this holiday season."

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