JCPenney Co.

New York -- J.C. Penney chairman and CEO Ron Johnson on Monday sent out an email to the chain’s customers  detailing how it is returning to the pricing policies its founder James Cash Penney intended.

"While you will see many changes, you can rest assured that we'll never lose sight of our founder's values," Johnson wrote. "When James Cash Penney built his first retail stores over a century ago, he called them 'The Golden Rule,' because treating customers with respect was his highest priority."

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Shopko has named Craig Gourley as its new SVP, general merchandise manager home and hardlines.  

In this position, Gourley will report to Jill Soltau, EVP, chief merchandising officer, and will be responsible for overseeing all aspects of merchandising for the home division including developing strategies, negotiation vendor partnerships and managing the buying team.

Cherry Hill, N.J. -- Philadelphia-based Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust said that Henri Bendel has opened a 2,300-sq.-ft. store at Cherry Hill Mall, in Cherry Hill, N.J.

Cherry Hill Mall is anchored by Nordstrom, Macy’s and J.C. Penney. Grand Lux Café recently opened its upscale restaurant concept at the mall, and Essensuals London, Pottery Barn and The North Face are all slated to open this year.
 

Newark, Calif. -- NewPark Mall in Newark, Calif., announced the upcoming addition of two new food court eateries: Taqueria La Tita and Crepe Bar are slated to open in August. Taqueria La Tita will open in 613 sq. ft. and La Crepe will measure 666 sq. ft.

NewPark Mall is anchored by Macy's, Sears, J.C. Penney and Burlington Coat Factory.
 

South Jersey’s first Henri Bendel has opened at Cherry Hill Mall, located in Cherry Hill, N.J.

The PREIT-owned property now features a 2,300-sq.-ft. Henry Bendel designer fashion boutique, joining Nordstrom, True Religion, Hugo Boss, Michael Kors, Guess by Marciano, and more.

“As South Jersey’s fashion destination, Cherry Hill Mall continues to welcome venerable style icons to the property,” said Lisa Wolstromer, Cherry Hill Mall senior marketing director.

Plano, Texas -- J.C. Penney on Aug. 1, will open in-store shop concepts for three brands—Levi's, i jeans by Buffalo and The Original Arizona Jean Co.—in nearly 700 stores nationwide. To coordinate with the back-to-school season, the retailer also is offering free haircuts for kids in its salons in the month of August.

I’ll say this for Ron Johnson: He has turned staid J.C. Penney into the most talked-about retailer in the nation. The company accounted for five of the 10 most-viewed stories on this website in the first half of 2012 (see story). And industry analysts and consultants can’t stop speculating on the chain’s fortunes, in print, on the web and on television.

JCPenney is not dead yet. New shops and free haircuts may help.

Retail pundits eager to write JCPenney’s obituary may want to wait until after the back-to-school season as the struggling retailer revealed several intriguing merchandising moves reminiscent of the tactics CEO Ron Johnson employed during his tenure running Apple stores. And in an unconventional buzz-building, traffic generating move the company said it would offer free haircuts to kids at its salons throughout August.