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Construction at JCPenney forces brief closing
BOARDMAN
Unexpected construction problems at J.C. Penney Co. in the Southern Park Mall forced management to turn customers away Wednesday when the store failed to open and remained closed throughout the day.
Two employees, working at the Penney’s entrance just off California Avenue, were telling customers the store was closed because of issues with construction.
Late Wednesday, a sign was posted on entrances informing the public the retailer would reopen today.
A store manager, who wished not to be named because she was not authorized by the corporate office to speak with the news media, said the store had every intention of opening Wednesday morning until the unidentified problems occurred.
She confirmed that employees had arrived for their shifts, but could not say when the store would reopen, referring further questions to corporate communications.
“We temporarily closed the JCP at Southern Park Mall as a precaution,” said Penney’s spokesman Joey Thomas in an email.
“The location is currently undergoing construction, and with any project, the safety of team members and customers is our top concern. Once we assess the situation and ensure there is no risk to people or the environment, we will reopen for business,” the email said.
The employees who did arrive were sent to the nearby Bob Evans restaurant, said Lee Beary, the general manager on shift there.
“There were quite a few, a good amount of them,” Beary said. “We heard the store was shut down for now — something that had to do with construction.”
Beary added that the employees left the Bob Evans about 12:30 p.m. after being told to go home.
Pam Ferguson, Southern Park Mall Manager, said she knew little about why the store was closed, referring questions to the company.
The mall was unaffected by the store’s closure.
The Boardman Penney’s has been under ongoing renovations, as have other locations nationwide, to reinvent the struggling retailer’s image.