JCPenney Co.

Plano, Texas -- A Wednesday report by the Wall Street Journal said that J.C. Penney Co. has launched a voluntary early-retirement program for certain employees over 55 years old.

New York City -- Department store retailers registered solid gains in July, with Macy’s, Saks and J.C. Penney all beating analysts’ estimates. Kohl’s, however, fell short of estimates as its sales fell.

At Macy's, same-store sales rose 5% in July, beating analysts' estimates of 4.1%. The company’s online sales (macys.com and bloomingdales.com combined) surged 36.7% in July, 40.2% in the second quarter and 39.2% in the first half of 2011.

Plano, Texas -- In a notification to Connecticut’s labor department, J.C. Penney Co. said it will lay off 442 workers at J.C. Penney’s distribution center in Manchester, Conn.

According to the notice, J.C. Penney is closing the facility's dot-com unit, and that employees' last day will be Sept 30.
 

New York City -- Apple has hired executive search firm Egon Zehnder International to help it find a replacement for its retail head Ron Johnson, according to reports by The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg.

The reports suggest that in hiring Egon Zehnder, which has offices around the globe, Apple may be looking for an executive with international retail experience. Apple is set to open nearly 30 stores this year outside of the United States.

Philadelphia -- Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust announced that J.C. Penney, Nordstrom Rack, Bravo Cucina Italiana and Forever 21 will join The Cheesecake Factory in 190,000 sq. ft. of anchor space formerly occupied by Strawbridge’s at Willow Grove Park in suburban Philadelphia.

The reconfiguration of the former Strawbridge’s store sets the stage for continuing the fashion-oriented merchandising strategy that differentiates the mall and appeals to a wide range of shopping and dining tastes.

NEW YORK — Liz Claiborne, the parent company behind such premium brands as Juicy Couture, Kate Spade and Lucky Brand, department store-based brands including Kensie and the licensed DKNY Jeans and DKNY Active brands and its own retail brands, reported second quarter net sales of $556 million, an increase of 3.5% from the second quarter last year. 

Newark, Calif. -- NewPark Mall, in Newark, Calif., has opened an in-house cultural arts center, the NewPark Mall Cultural Corner.

The just-opened cultural center, located on the lower level near Sears, provides exhibit space for the work of local artisans, including painters, sculptors, photographers and digital artists.

NewPark Mall is anchored by Macy's, Sears, J.C. Penney, Target and Burlington Coat Factory. It is owned and managed by General Growth Properties, Chicago.

Presque Isle, Maine -- Westport, Conn.-based Charter Realty & Development Corp. said it has arranged a lease for 25,000 sq. ft. for a T.J. Maxx store in the Aroostook Center Mall in Presque Isle, Maine.

T.J. Maxx will join Lowes, Sears, J.C. Penney and others in this project. This 525,000-sq.-ft. center is owned by Sitt Assett Management.

Charter Realty currently represents TJX Cos. for their T.J.Maxx, Marshalls, Marshalls Shoes and HomeGoods divisions in various markets throughout the Northeast.