The future is uncertain for Pine Bluff’s shopping mall as it faces possible foreclosure and the loss of one of its anchor stores.
Following a tough holiday sales season, J.C. Penney announced it will shutter 18 stores nationwide. That includes its location at The Pines Mall.
A J.C. Penney spokesperson confirmed the store will close on July 5.
“This decision is the result of an ongoing review of our store portfolio, which includes assessing locations that may not meet our required financial targets or represent an opportunity to capitalize on a beneficial real estate asset,” a J.C. Penney spokesperson said by email.
Go Forward Pine Bluff CEO Ryan Watley said city leaders hope to change the retailer’s mind.
“We need to make sure J.C. Penney knows everything going on in Pine Bluff,” Watley said.
Mayor Shirley Washington plans to contact the company’s corporate office to discuss the city’s casino development in particular.
“She’s going to contact them to hopefully sit down with their corporate office and be able to articulate the plans that are going on and the opportunities,” Watley said.
The Quapaw tribe is building a $350 million casino resort across Interstate 530 from the mall that Watley expects will bring about a boom in business.
“With the opportunity of a significant traffic increase, we may be able to change their mind,” he said.
Judy Vu, owner of The Pines Mall, told THV11 the closing of J.C. Penney hurts the entire city of Pine Bluff. On Saturday, Vu said she had not spoken with the retailer's executives about the closure.
The mall's issues started long before the Friday announcement from J.C. Penney.
Carrington Electric filed a lawsuit against The Pines Mall in June 2017 alleging its owners did not pay for $18,759 worth of work.
On February 13, a Jefferson County judge ruled in favor of Carrington Electric and ordered the mall's owners pay for the work, interest accrued and other fees associated with the case.
The judge also issued a lien and foreclosure decree, which allows for a foreclosure sale if plaintiffs do not receive payment within 10 days of the order.
"The current [mall] owner has not done Pine Bluff a favor at all, Watley said. "That's no secret throughout this community. By being in foreclosure, that just opens the door of a grand opportunity with a casino coming just across the highway for someone who really knows how to operate a mall and bring in the stores and quality of life that people want," he said.
Vu said the mall withheld payment from Carrington Electric because the contracted work was not completed properly. Vu said she intends to contact the owner of Carrington Electric directly in hopes of resolving the dispute.
On Saturday, THV11 reached out to Carrington Electric and attorney John Talbot, who represented the company in this lawsuit. Neither party had responded as of 11 p.m. Saturday.