Shoppers have mixed feelings on closing
By Kelly Yamanouchi and Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writers
Hawai'i shoppers generally had mixed feelings about J.C. Penney Co.'s announcement yesterday that it will close three of its four stores in Hawai'i early next year.
Grace Watanabe, 40, of Pearl City, said she liked shopping for name-brand clothes and children's clothing at J.C. Penney and was disappointed that both of the retailer's Oahu stores will close.
"Gee, that's really sad," said Watanabe, a post office clerk who has two children, ages 20 and 13. Watanabe said she likes the sales at J.C. Penney. But come January, "I guess it's back to Macy's or Sears," she said.
Others were indifferent, including Jeff Lebel, a 22-year-old student at Kapiolani Community College, who said he doesn't shop at J.C. Penney much and won't miss it.
"It's just got a weird vibe to it. That's the reason nobody really shops there," Lebel said, adding that he shops at Sears or Macy's more often. As for J.C. Penney's, "They don't give you a warm feeling."
At the Penney's store at Prince Kuhio Plaza shopping complex in Hilo, the announcement saddened Pat Koga, an executive secretary for Hawaii County who said she has her hair done every Saturday at the store.
"This is very difficult," said Koga, a Hilo J.C. Penney shopper for more than three decades. "A very sad day."
Many of those yesterday who said they like J.C. Penney stores said they shop there for the sales.
Hisako Uyeda, 80, who lives in Manoa, said J.C. Penney is one of her favorite stores and she shops at the Ala Moana location for clothes for her grandchildren, ages 12 and 4. She said the store seemed to have more discount racks than other department stores.
"I shop for everyday clothing. I feel more relaxed in that store," Uyeda said. "I'm very disappointed they're gonna close."
Lea Meeks, a waitress who lives with her husband at Schofield Barracks, came out of the J.C. Penney store at Pearlridge yesterday carrying a package from Sears — tools for her husband. Meeks, who is nine months pregnant, normally only shops for baby clothes at J.C. Penney. But she'll miss it anyway when the three Hawai'i stores close.
"It's a bummer," Meeks said. "It's a good store"
Eric Farmer, a soldier stationed at Schofield, said he normally shops at discount retailers Ross Stores and Wal-Mart. "I'm just not a J.C. Penney person," Farmer said.
Bobbie Almogela, a 19-year-old Heald College student from Waipahu, said she buys clothes for herself and 1-year-old daughter, Angelica, at other places. The clothes at Penney's, she said, "are out of style."
Roy Uehara, a shop owner who lives in Waipi'o, said he doesn't buy much at J.C. Penney and likes the prices better at Wal-Mart, Costco and Kmart. His wife was shopping at Ala Moana's Sears yesterday.
Still, some visitors who travel to Hawai'i often said they'll miss J. C. Penney's.
Nathaniel Newlands, a marine biologist on an 11-day visit to the Islands from Vancouver, British Columbia, said he comes to Hawai'i about once a year and shops at J.C. Penney's with his wife to buy affordable Hawaiiana clothing, jewelry and gifts to take home.
"There's some pretty high-priced Hawaiian shops," Newlands said. "We're looking for some nice items at the larger department stores here."
Elva Arakawa, who used to live in Hawai'i and now lives in Washington state, visits every year and said she'll miss going to J.C. Penney here. The stores are popular for back-to-school clothes and have a better selection of petite clothing, she said.
"When they have a sale, the sales are really good," Arakawa said.
For shoppers in Maui — where the retailer said its store would stay open — there was some relief.
Mary Fowler of Kihei said she's glad the Maui store is being spared because it gives her another retailing option. She described herself as a regular J.C. Penney shopper who enjoys the reasonable prices and the quality.
"Sometimes there's hardly anyone in there and you wonder how they stay open. But other times I've had to wait at the counters," Fowler said.
Beverly Vancil, an employee at Vitamin World at the Queen Ka'ahumanu Center, said news that Penney's is closing three of its Island stores is worrisome.
"It's one of the anchor stores here," she said. "I would hate to see it close. Then the whole mall would go down. Plus, I shop here and I would miss it."
Penney employees said yesterday they were asked not to talk to the media and instead refer questions to Mainland officials.
But outside the Penney's store at Prince Kuhio Plaza shopping complex in Hilo, two Penney hair salon workers contemplated their future.
That 28-person department reportedly was making money, according to Joni Scott, a 15-year stylist who came from O'ahu to live in Hilo where she earned a bachelor's degree while working at J.C. Penney.
She said workers are reviewing their options but probably will stay through the Dec. 23 scheduled closure of the salon to preserve severance pay. The store itself is due to close in early January.
Christen Quinories, a three-year salon employee, said workers were told the news about 8:30 a.m. yesterday, which came as "a total shock."
Advertiser staff writers Tim Hurley and Hugh Clark contributed to this story.
