JCPenney Co.

Philadelphia -- PREIT announced it has completed the sale of four additional non-core malls. This is a milestone achievement for the company that signifies the near-completion of non-core mall disposition effort with one remaining mall being marketed for sale.

Mall disposition transactions include:
• Lycoming Mall in Pennsdale, Pennsylvania, anchored by J.C. Penney, Sears, Bon-Ton and Macy's sold for $26.35 million.

The nearly one-year-old online retail startup from Ron Johnson is expanding into new markets.

Enjoy, which sells higher-end consumer electronics that trained experts hand deliver and provide training for at no additional charge, has added Los Angeles to its delivery area. Its next market will be Chicago.

The company already services San Francisco and New York City.

Petco has added two key leaders to its executive ranks and expanded the role of its supply chain chief.

The company announced that it has hired Jodi Watson as senior VP, Petco Direct, and Spencer Insolia as VP, Petco and president, Doctors Foster & Smith. The company has also named John Carcasi as senior VP, supply chain & merchandise planning, expanding his previous role to encompass all supply chain and inventory related activity across the company.

Many retailers are lagging in their EMV adoption efforts, and many consumers may not care that much.

Unlike many of its department store peers, The J.C. Penney Co. Inc. is not planning any major store closings. Instead, Penney CEO Marvin Ellison told Fortune that the company sees stores as an integral part of an omnichannel strategy that will include offering buy online pickup in store functionality in time for back-to-school season. [Fortune]

There has been a great deal of discussion and analysis in recent years regarding the ongoing struggles of many traditional department store giants. Brands like Sears, J.C. Penney and Macy’s are scratching and clawing to continue to stay afloat, together with a number of big-box retailers that are also struggling to remain competitive in an evolving retail marketplace.

J.C. Penney on Monday received an official vote of confidence in its performance: an improved credit rating.

Fitch Ratings upgraded Penney’s credit rating, saying the department store retailer has “demonstrated a meaningful turnaround of its business over the last over the last two years.” Fitch upgraded Penney from B- to B with a positive outlook.

Hanford, Calif. – Passco Companies announced four leases at Hanford Mall located in Hanford, California. Set to open summer 2016, the new retailers include Buffalo Wild Wings, Five Guys, Dunkin Donuts, and Pieology.