Kohl’s opens 21 stores in 15 states

Menomonee Falls, Wis. Kohl's Corp. is celebrating the opening of 21 stores, creating almost 3,000 jobs in 15 states.

Kohl's new stores, which opened Wednesday, are located in Alabama; California; Florida; Illinois; Kansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Maryland; Minnesota; Missouri; Nevada; New Mexico; New York; Ohio; and Pennsylvania. With the new locations, the company now operates 1,089 stores in 49 states.

Aside from the new stores, Kohl's said it is remodeling a total of 85 existing locations in 2010.

The retailer also announced that it has opened a customer service and operations center in San Antonio, that will serve its credit-card and online customers. The facility has hired about 200 workers and plans to add more than 1,000 jobs over the next three years.

Kohl's has two other customer service and operations centers in Corsicana, Texas, and Menomonee Falls, Wis.

On Tuesday, Kohl’s rival J.C. Penney Co. said it would open three new stores next year as part of a long-term plan to boost sales and reach more middle-income shoppers.