JCPenney to close 138 stores, lay off 5,000 workers

March 18 (UPI) -- Retailer JCPenney announced it is closing 138 stores nationwide this summer because of slow sales.

The company said the locations represent 14 percent of store locations but account for five percent of company sales. A supply chain facility in Lakeland, Fla. will be closed and another in Buena Park, Calif., will be relocated. About 5,000 people will be laid off as a result. The stores will begin liquidating merchandise in April and most stores are expected to be closed by June, officials said.

"JCPenney is in the process of identifying relocation opportunities within the company for esteemed leaders," the company said in a written statement. "Additionally, JCPenney will provide outplacement support services for those eligible associates who will be leaving the company."

The department store chain has been struggling like others amid the growing movement to online shopping. Stores in 41 states will close with the biggest cuts in Texas (nine stores) and Minnesota (eight stores).

The following is a list of store locations that will close:

Alabama Auburn Mall, Tannehill Promenade, Gadsden Mall, Jasper Mall Arkansas Military Plaza, Chickasaw Plaza Arizona Riverview Mall California Downtown Bishop, Sunwest Plaza, The Village at Orange, Hilltop Mall Colorado Fort Morgan Main St., Glenwood Springs Mall, St. Vrain Centre, Broadway Plaza Connecticut Connecticut Post Mall Florida Jacksonville Regional Shopping Center, Palatka Mall Georgia Dublin Mall, Macon Mall, Milledgeville Mall, Gateway Plaza, Tifton Mall Iowa Downtown Decorah, Crossroads Mall, Penn Central Mall, Quincy Place Idaho Snake River Plaza Illinois Eastland Mall, Fulton Square, Village Square Mall, Macomb, Peru Mall, Northland Mall, Centerpointe of Woodridge Indiana FairOaks Mall, Connersville Plaza, Huntington Plaza, Jasper Manor Center, Logansport Mall Kansas Chanute Square, Downtown Great Bend, Hutchinson Mall, Lawrence, Winfield Plaza Lousiana Cortana Mall, Park Terrace, North Shore Square Massachusetts Berkshire Mall Maryland Easton Marketplace Maine Rockland Plaza Michigan Lakeview Square Mall, Delta Plaza, Westshore Mall, Copper Country Mall, Birchwood Mall, Midland Mall, Cascade Crossings Minnesota Central Lakes Crossing, Five Lakes Centre, Faribo West Mall, Irongate Plaza, Hutchinson Mall, Red Wing Mall, Downtown Thief River Falls, Winona Missouri Maryville Center Mississippi Leigh Mall, Southgate Plaza, Greenville Mall, Bonita Lakes Mall, Oxford Mall Montana Capital Hill Mall, Sidney Main Street North Carolina Albemarle Crossing, Boone Mall, Eastridge Mall, Blue Ridge Mall, Monroe Crossing, Becker Village Mall North Dakota Prairie Hills Mall, Buffalo Mall, Downtown Wahpeton Nebraska Fremont Mall, Downtown McCook, Platte River Mall North, New Jersey Rio Grande Plaza Nevada The Boulevard New York Dunkirk-Fredonia Plaza, Westfield Sunrise, Palisades Center Ohio Findlay Village Mall, New Towne Mall, Richmond Town Square, St. Mary's Square Oklahoma Altus Plaza, Ne-Mar Shopping Center, Ponca Plaza, Pioneer Square Shopping Center Oregon Astoria Downtown, Grants Pass Shopping Center, La Grande Downtown, Downtown Pendleton, The Dalles Main Street Pennsylvania Columbia Mall, Clearfield Mall, King of Prussia Mall, Philadelphia Mills, Bradford Towne Centre, Lycoming Mall, Willow Grove Park South Carolina Citadel Mall, Town 'N Country South Dakota Palace Mall, Northridge Plaza, Watertown Mall, Yankton Mall Tennessee Greeneville Commons, Knoxville Center, County Market Place, Texas Athens Village Shopping Center Borger Shopping Plaza, Heartland Mall, El Paso Downtown, Marshall Mall, McAllen Downtown, University Mall, King Plaza Shopping Center, Bosque River Center Virginia New River Valley Mall, Tanglewood Mall Washington Pilchuck Landing Wisconsin Pine Tree Mall, Marshfield Mall, Richland Square Shopping Center, Rapids Mall Wisconsin West Virginia Foxcroft Towne Center Wyoming Downtown Sheridan