I was unfamiliar with JC Penney's historical background. That was actually kind if interesting. It made me slightly depressed to think about the last time i had actually been in a JC Penney. Had I been acquainted with the historical background that may have influenced my perceptions. It was about 6 years ago. I had to buy a black, button down dress shirt for my kid to use at a semi-formal school function at the last minute. The place was a fucking mess. There was shit everywhere. It looked like a stereotypical wine aunt's appartment. I easily found the exact kind of shirt I wanted though, the selection was spot on for what I needed. But when I tried to purchase the item, the young, biracial angel working at the only register I could find told me that he couldn't accept credit payments, only cash. When I attempted to pay in cash the guy couldn't get the register open to make change. At that time, I was in the habit of carrying enough to make at least one exact cash purchase. I always carried 3 quarters, two dimes, a nickel, and four pennies. I gave the guy the exact amount and watched him squeeze the bills and slide the coins into the little slot on the tender tray of the register and I made him print me a receipt which oddly enough he was capable of doing. I left that JC Penney for the last time that day. It went out of business shortly after. I had been to it many times before but I was not prepared to see it in that condition. It was hilarious and depressing at the same time.
I can't tell you the last time I was in one - probably as they were closing the catalog shop down. They used to have giant outlet stores where all the older stock went. It was a true outlet store and even had overruns and seconds. Always full of great deals, but they closed with the catalog discontinuation.
Nothing like those "Outlet Malls" that seem to spring up everywhere. Those seem to just be full of stuff specially made for those stores, and aren't overruns.
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