JCPenney Stores Closing: Ross Park Mall Launches Up to 40% Off Store Closing Sale

A longtime JCPenney store in western Pennsylvania is entering its final months, and shoppers are already seeing closing-sale discounts before the location shuts down for good. The Ross Park Mall store in Ross Township is scheduled to close on September 20, 2026, ending a nearly 40-year run at one of the Pittsburgh area’s best-known shopping centers.

The closure affects customers who have used the store for school shopping, holiday deals, home goods, apparel and department-store basics since Ross Park Mall opened in 1986. While JCPenney is not leaving the region entirely, this specific mall anchor is preparing to say goodbye after its lease expires.

JCPenney closing sale begins at Ross Park Mall

The store-closing sale has already started months before the final day. Shoppers at the Ross Park Mall location are seeing 20% off many items across the store, while selected merchandise has been discounted by up to 40%.

The clearance section is also still available, giving customers another place to look for lower prices. The store is not in its final empty-shelf stage yet, with shopper reports indicating the location remains about 75% stocked.

That means customers who visit earlier may have better selection, while shoppers who wait until closer to September could see deeper markdowns but fewer sizes, styles and categories left on the floor.

Why the Ross Park Mall store is closing

The shutdown is linked to the store’s lease. JCPenney said it could not reach terms on a new lease for the Ross Township location and was not able to secure another suitable nearby site.

That makes the closure location-specific rather than a sign that every JCPenney in western Pennsylvania is shutting down. Customers will still be able to shop other area stores after the Ross Park Mall location closes.

For updated store information, shoppers can use the official JCPenney store locator to check nearby locations, hours and available services.

A 40-year mall anchor prepares to exit

The Ross Park Mall JCPenney has been part of the shopping center since the mall opened four decades ago. For many local families, the store was tied to routine shopping trips: back-to-school clothing, Black Friday promotions, holiday gifts and everyday purchases under one roof.

The store originally operated across two floors. In 2019, JCPenney reduced the location to the first floor, a move that reflected the broader pressure facing traditional department stores as more sales shifted online and mall shopping habits changed.

Its closing also matters because Ross Park Mall is one of Pennsylvania’s major retail centers. When a large anchor leaves, it can affect foot traffic, leasing strategy and how the mall reuses a major retail space.

Nearby JCPenney stores will remain open

After the Ross Park Mall location closes, customers in western Pennsylvania will still have other JCPenney stores in the region. The official JCPenney locator lists Pennsylvania locations and allows shoppers to search by city, state or ZIP code.

What could replace the store

No official replacement has been confirmed for the JCPenney space. Local speculation has pointed to Zara as a possible future tenant, but that has not been confirmed.

Large mall-anchor spaces can be difficult to replace with a single tenant. Some malls divide former department-store boxes into multiple shops, while others bring in entertainment, restaurants, fitness concepts or newer retail brands that can draw different types of visitors.

For Ross Park Mall, the next use of the JCPenney space will be closely watched because it could signal how the shopping center plans to compete as department stores continue to shrink their physical footprints.

How this fits JCPenney’s wider retail reset

JCPenney’s Ross Park Mall exit comes several years after the retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2020 during the Covid pandemic. The company was later acquired by Brookfield Property Partners and Simon Property Group and emerged from bankruptcy in December 2020.

The chain still operates hundreds of stores across the United States, but individual locations continue to be evaluated based on lease terms, store performance, market coverage and long-term real estate strategy.

The closure also reflects a wider retail pattern: some established mall stores are shrinking or leaving older spaces, while other retailers are expanding in selected markets. Recent retail movement has included Publix opening new Florida stores in July 2026, showing that physical retail is still active but increasingly selective about location.

What shoppers should do before September

For shoppers planning one last visit, the main deadline is September 20, 2026. The closing sale is already active, and the store still has a meaningful amount of inventory available.

Customers looking for the best selection may want to shop earlier in the sale. Those waiting for larger discounts should be prepared for fewer choices as merchandise sells down before the final closing date.

The Ross Park Mall JCPenney may no longer be part of the mall after September, but for many Pittsburgh-area shoppers, its final sale marks the end of a department-store stop that has been part of local retail life since the 1980s.