The Outlet stores were shuttered about a decade ago and were very profitable. The CEO at the time didn’t want outlet stores associated with its namesake.....so we were told. There was a third party who purchased most of them but then quickly folded within a few years . At a time where discount stores were thriving JCP decides to close up something that would have been good for its future. It was a way of using the JCP branded name to future proof it’s business keeping the outlet division. There could have been hundreds of stores converted by now. Yeah it’s true the outlet division was always thought of as the step child of the company and it’s leaders mostly nerdy old guys BUT they were highly profitable and in the end that’s all that matters.
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Agree with most of your thoughts. When they closed and were sold off there were only 18 outlet stores total. They had about 30 at one time but several closed due to not being profitable. If they would have hung in there i think the outlets would have made a huge impact by now. It’s like the only sector in retail not failing in a volitile environment.