Plano, Texas — J. C. Penney recently reopened 150 stores in 27 states, bringing the total to 304 reopened stores nationwide after temporarily closing due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Additionally, five stores are currently offering contact-free curbside pickup only. The company plans to have almost 500 reopened by June 3.
“We’ve now reopened a third of our stores and plan to have nearly 500 reopened by June 3. To do this, we’re operating differently and taking a strategic and consistent approach, keeping associate and customer safety as our top priority,” says Jim DePaul, executive vice president of stores at JCPenney. “We are excited to welcome back our loyal customers and dedicated associates. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive as we reopen our doors, focused primarily on our enhanced safety measures.”
JCPenney continues to monitor CDC guidelines, as well as state and local mandates, to inform its practices, taking extra precautions and going above and beyond those recommendations.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for associates is required and the company is providing masks, gloves and hand sanitizer to promote a healthy work and shopping environment. The company has staggered shift schedules to minimize associate contact, enhanced store cleaning with a focus on high-touch areas, and added Plexiglass shields at registers, while social distancing and safety signage are the new normal. In addition to offering contactless checkout from customers’ mobile devices via barcode, contact-free curbside pickup is now available in all reopened stores.
JCPenney is also offering designated shopping hours for at-risk customers at all stores on Wednesdays and Fridays from 11 a.m. until noon. At-risk customers include senior citizens, expectant mothers and those with underlying health concerns.
J. C. Penney Company, Inc. has approximately 850 stores across the United States and Puerto Rico. For more information, visit www.jcp.com.
SOURCE: J. C. Penney Company, Inc.