SNOHOMISH — A couple of women are hoping to save a JCPenney store beloved by generations of families in Snohomish.
The store is one of 138 across the country — and the only in Washington — that is being closed. Liquidation is set to begin April 17. Store doors are expected to close mid-June.
Audrey DeLacey, 55, and Katie Larchick, 54, are encouraging people to call JCPenney’s corporate headquarters and vouch for their local store.
“It’s just been a centerpiece of Snohomish for a very long time,” DeLacey said. “We decided to make a ruckus about it.”
JCPenney has owned the building at 265 Pine Avenue since 1960, according to property records. Before that, it was located downtown on First Street between Avenue A and Union Avenue.
DeLacey moved to Snohomish when her two daughters were in elementary school. They are now 27 and 29. As teenagers, they worked each summer at the Evergreen State Fair in the food stands. Their earnings went toward back-to-school clothes shopping at JCPenney. The store at Pilchuck Landing was four blocks from their house. It was the first place the girls could walk to on their own growing up.
“Your kids shop there, grow up, work there and then shop for their own children,” DeLacey said.
JCPenney announced its plans in a press release last month. The closures account for about 14 percent of the company’s locations, but only 5 percent of annual sales.
There are about 20 people employed at the Snohomish store. The company offered a voluntary early retirement program to 6,000 eligible employees nationwide.
“Taking actions that directly impact our valued associates and loyal customers is difficult,” JCPenney spokesman Joey Thomas said. “We’ll go to great lengths to relocate esteemed leaders, while providing outplacement support services for those eligible associates who will be leaving the company.”
One of the reasons behind the closures is a growing need to contend with online clothing stores.
“We believe closing stores will also allow us to adjust our business to effectively compete against the growing threat of online retailers,” said Marvin Ellison, chairman and chief executive officer of JCPenney.
In January, Macy’s announced it plans to close about 100 stores, including one at Everett Mall. That same month, Sears Holdings said 42 Sears stores and 108 Kmarts will shut down. This included the Sears at the Alderwood mall.
The JCPenney’s closure hits close to home.
“It may not seem significant to someone from the outside, ” Larchick said. “It’s a loss to the town.”
She would take her son shopping at JCPenney and stop for lunch at Collector’s Choice Restaurant next door.
“It’s not just a store,” Larchick said. “It has the feeling like the store you would go to with your grandmother. It has the small town vibe.”
Larchick said the store has the convenience of online shopping without having to guess clothing sizes. She can get in and out within 10 minutes.
“I can imagine there are a whole lot of husbands running over there to get Mother’s Day gifts,” DeLacey said.
If the store closes, the next nearest JCPenney is at the Marysville Town Center. DeLacey has been trying to get the word out to people in the community, asking them to call JCPenney’s headquarters in Texas.
“You never know. It may change things,” she said.
Caitlin Tompkins: 425-339-3192; ctompkins@heraldnet.com.
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