Despite holiday sales profits being up last month, J.C. Penney Co. is closing about 40 stores across the United States this year.
Speaking with CNBC, a company spokesman indicated that about 2,250 employees would be affected by the closings.
“We continually evaluate our store portfolio to determine whether there’s a need to close or relocate underperforming stores,” he said in an interview Thursday. J.C. Penney made a similar announcement in January 2014, shuttering 33 stores.
On Wednesday, the Texas-based retailer reported sales growth of 3.7 percent for November and December, compared to the same period in 2013.
“I would like to thank our associates for their hard work, warrior spirit and commitment to delivering an exceptional customer experience every day,” said CEO Myron E. Ullman in the celebratory press release sent one day before the store closings were announced.
Stores in 19 states will see locations close. Pennsylvania will most heavily affected, with five sites set to close.
Here's the list of J.C. Penney stores closing this year http://t.co/8disWA1ynCpic.twitter.com/h1cOKhOmQn
— Emily Cohn (@emily_cohn) January 8, 2015
Thomas said most of the locations will close in April.
Clint Davis is a writer for the E.W. Scripps National Desk. Follow him on Twitter @MrClintDavis.