Century III Mall's JCPenney to close

The JCPenney store at Century III Mall has been added to the list of 151 locations closing nationwide.

It was the last surviving store in the long-struggling mall, which closed last year after West Mifflin Code Enforcement declared it “unsafe and uninhabitable” due to a broken water and fire suppression system.

JCPenney officials last year said the Century III store would remain open “for many years to come” despite plans to demolish and redevelop the rest of the mall.

That changed after the company filed for bankruptcy in May. In June, JCPenney released a list of 154 stores expected to close. That list has changed several times in the ensuing weeks, with some stores being spared and others being added to the list.

Century III’s location was added this week, joining the stores at the Pittsburgh Mills mall in Frazer and Clearview Mall near Butler.

Closing dates for the affected stores have not been announced. Closing sales at Pittsburgh Mills and Clearview Mall are ongoing, and a closing sale at Century III is expected to begin soon, according to JCPenney’s website.

Returns at the Century III location will no longer be accepted after Aug. 14.

JCPenney filed for bankruptcy as the coronavirus pandemic rocked retail sales, following many years of financial struggles, The Associated Press reported in May.

The stores at Monroeville Mall and the Beaver Valley Mall in Center Township were on the original list of closures, but were later removed, and will remain open.

Several other area JCPenney locations are slated to remain open, including Westmoreland Mall in Hempfield, Ross Park Mall and Robinson Town Centre.