JCPenney Welcomes Customers to Shop in New Store in Wayne, NJ

On Friday, April 5, JCPenney celebrated 50 years in Wayne, NJ and unveiled its new anchor store at Willowbrook Mall. The grand reopening saw over 500 customers who received thousands of dollars’ worth of gift cards. A few lucky shoppers went home with a diamond necklace, full size Olaplex products, JLo perfume and more.

“Today’s grand opening is a continuation of JCPenney’s 50-year presence in the heart of this community and we’re so happy to enter this new chapter of our story in this town,” said Missy Ioanna, JCPenney District Manager over the Wayne location. “Willowbrook Mall is a thriving retail center, and we’re honored to join our neighbors in calling this space home.”

Special guests from the community joined JCPenney associates and customers for the celebration, including New Jersey State Senator Kristin Corrado, Business Administrator for the City of Wayne Christopher J. Tietjen, Wayne Township Council President Jason DeStefano, Melanie Holmes from the office of Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill and President of the New Jersey Retail Association John Holub. Gina Radice from the Boys & Girls Club of Northwest New Jersey was also in attendance to accept a donation of $11,250 for the local chapter and Ryan Hidalgo, senior general manager of Willowbrook Mall gave a few words on behalf of Brookfield Properties.

“Today we celebrate a new chapter, a whole new footprint with [JCPenney’s] grand opening here at Willowbrook Mall. JCPenney has served our community for five decades and their commitment to Wayne is undeniable,” said DeStefano. “You can see that with the YMCA, the Boys and Girls Club, and the other initiatives [they] partake in with our community.”

New Jersey State Senator Kristin Corrado added, “It’s not just the quality merchandise, it’s the incredible customer service. You are always greeted by a friendly smile and a helpful person [at JCPenney], and it’s also the amount of time and commitment to your community.”

Opening weekend sales beat plan by 48% and the store was the second-highest performing location in the company. Over 50% of all transactions were made on a JCPenney credit card. In addition, the store has filed over 650 applications for a JCPenney credit card since the soft opening on March 14.

The new JCPenney Wayne location is now open at 4 Willowbrook Blvd and customers can expect a refreshed and revitalized in-store experience featuring a smaller store footprint, more curated merchandise selection and a conveniently located side-by-side Salon and Beauty section. You can read more about the store and its grand opening event in WWD, Chain Store Age, Forbes, NorthJersey.com and NJBiz.

As part of JCPenney’s commitment to Make It Count for its customers, each of the company’s more than 650 stores will undergo varying updates, including enhanced store look and feel, improved technology and associate tools and physical upgrades. Additions like a new point-of-sale system will better integrate with inventory, and upgrades to in-store Wi-Fi networks will provide faster, more reliable connections for customers and associates. More than 100 stores have already been completed, and the Wayne location is just one example of how these improvements are coming to life.

“The new JCPenney store concept in Wayne, NJ is bringing a refreshing new take to the in-person department store shopping experience,” said Michelle Wlazlo, Chief Merchandising Officer for JCPenney said. “We are dedicated to making the in-store experience more inviting and productive for the diverse, working families we serve.”

Photos and b-roll of the new store concept and the grand reopening event are available for download. For more information, please contact jcpnews@jcp.com.