Valley J.C. Penneys spared; Gap, Victoria's Secret in Danger

Customers at J.C. Penney stores in the area can breathe a sigh of relief as the three sites in the valley will remain open despite the company's announcement of new closures this week.

Sarah Holland, spokeswoman for J.C. Penney, said the department stores at the Vintage Faire Mall in Modesto, the Countryside Plaza in Turlock and The Promenade Shops at Orchard Valley in Manteca would remain open. Earlier this week, the company announced it would close 27 sites this year, 18 department stores and nine furniture stores.

But the fate of two other local national clothing brands, Victoria's Secret and Gap, remains unclear, with the parent company issuing its own closing notices this week. The Gap has announced that it will eliminate 230 stores in the next two years. Victoria's Secret has announced the closure of 53 sites in 2019.

The Gap and Victoria's Secret both have stores in the Vintage Faire Mall. The latter also owns one of its Pink stores in the Modesto shopping center.

Trina Somera, a spokesperson for Gap Inc., said the company has not yet finalized its list of specific store closures. Gap has approximately 800 retail stores in North America.

Representatives of Victoria's Secret companies did not respond to The Bee's inquiries at the time of publication.

Brian Malony, a spokesman for Vintage Faire Mall, said he had heard of none of the Vintage Faire Mall's locations listed on the closing lists. The parent companies of both brands have not yet published a list of sites to be closed.

Earlier this year, the Sears store at Vintage Faire Mall closed. The department store is located in the North Mall of Modesto since 1977 and is one of its original anchors. Of the four anchors of the mall, J.C. Penney, Gottschalks, Sears and Weinstock, only J.C. Penney remains open.