March 9th, 2017 by WCBC Radio

JCPenney recently announced that it would close 130 to 140 stores in the next couple of months because of slowing traffic and sales. Morningstar Credit Ratings recently identified 39 stores most at risk of closing based on sales data. The Lavale JCPenny location was among those stores. WCBC News spoke with several shop owners at Country Club Mall who said that the stores closure was a done deal.  The stores targeted for closing have weaker sales per square foot than JCPenney's average according to a report.  In addition to the LaVale store, a Penneys in Wheaton Maryland and six stores in neighboring Pennsyvania will close.  Nearly all will close by the end of June.