J.C. Penney announced plans to close 40 stores across the chain in the next year, but local locations in the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside and the Hampshire Mall in Hadley are to stay open. On January 7, 2015, J.C. Penney announced that same-store sales rose 3.7% during the holiday season. But the department store chain has had trouble in the last few years adjusting to changing tastes and consumer expectations.

J.C. Penney stores that will be closed include ones in Providence Place in Providence, Rhode Island, and at the Rutland Mall in Vermont.