Penneys

JCPenney was one of the original anchor stores at Monroeville Mall, opening on its first day, May 13, 1969. For over 40 years, it occupied a massive central location that famously served as a primary filming site for George A. Romero's 1978 horror classic, Dawn of the Dead.

Key Historical Milestones
Opening and Relocation (1969): JCPenney moved to the mall from its former location in the nearby Miracle Mile Shopping Center to join Gimbels and Joseph Horne Co. as the mall's three main anchors.

• The "Dawn of the Dead" Era (1970s): The store’s original layout, including its signature escalators, is immortalized in film. In 1977, the store carried a wide variety of goods, including TVs, radios, and typewriters.

• Store Relocation and Modernization (2012):
  • In September 2012, JCPenney moved from its original central spot to a downsized, updated format in the space formerly occupied by Boscov's (and originally Gimbels) at the west end of the mall.
  • This new 110,000-square-foot location featured a Sephora cosmetic department (now JCPenney Beauty) and a professional hair salon.

Demolition of the Original Store (2013): The original JCPenney building in the center of the mall was demolished in early 2013. Its site was redeveloped into the Cinemark Monroeville Mall 12 and an H&M store.