JCPenney closed its doors for good at King of Prussia and Willow Grove Park Malls on July 31 to the dismay of many consumers, writes Suzette Parmley for Philly.com.

In March, J.C. Penney identified 138 stores it planned to close as part of its companywide downsizing to shed poor performers.

“It became apparent to us that our footprint was too large,” said JCPenney’s chief executive officer Marvin Ellison.

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The liquidation process of Montgomery County locations started in the second half of April, with most of the inventory on sale. To move the remaining stock, the stores then held closeout sales that discounted almost everything by 80 to 90 percent.

Simon Property Group, owner of King of Prussia Mall, has not yet said if they have a replacement tenant for the now former JCPenney space. While Willow Grove Park Mall owner, Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust, is already looking for a replacement tenant for the vacated space according to spokeswoman Heather Crowell.

The combined closing of these two stores and the store at Philadelphia Mills in the Northeast will affect almost 5,000 positions in the region.

Read more about the closures at Philly.com by clicking here.

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