COUDERSPORT – Downtown Coudersport could be facing a tough blow
in February with the closing of the JCPenney store, an anchor
tenant in the business district.

Tim Lyons, public relations officer for the merchandising giant,
confirmed plans by JCPenney corporate offices to close the store,
eliminating 12 jobs. He described the closing as a “difficult
business decision.”

Several efforts are under way by business leaders and government
officials in Coudersport to save the store, but local leaders
concede that the prospects are dim.

“Losing JCPenney could really hurt Coudersport,” said Stan
Swank, a vice-president with the Coudersport Area Chamber of
Commerce Board of Directors. “People come to Coudersport to shop at
JCPenney and then they stop at other businesses, which helps our
economy.”

The Coudersport store has been at the same location since
opening in 1930. The business expanded several years ago, taking
over the former Hamlin Five and Dime general merchandise store.

JCPenney has evolved over the years. At one time, a massive toy
store on the second floor was popular with children and Christmas
shoppers. In the 1970s, the store expanded its “virtual inventory”
through a beefed-up catalogue ordering service that was an
immediate success.

Chamber of Commerce leaders are appealing to JCPenney to
reconsider.

In a letter to the corporate office in Dallas, Texas, the
Chamber Board of Directors said: “Coudersport suffered a critical
blow beginning in 2002, when Adelphia Communications Corp., our
leading employer, plunged into bankruptcy. But rather than allow
Adelphia’s demise to knock us down, we in the Coudersport community
took our destiny into our own hands.

“Steadily, we have been rebuilding the local economy with a
diverse collection of new businesses and industries while actively
marketing ourselves as a high-tech community that still maintains
its rural charm. Our civic organizations remain vibrant and we’re
on the rebound. We would very much like for JCPenney to remain a
part of the ‘new Coudersport.’ We urge your organization to
reconsider the decision to close your Coudersport store.”

On Friday afternoon, the Renaissance Committee, a group of
Potter County strategic planners and community development
volunteers, held an emergency meeting to develop an appeal to
JCPenney.

Spokesman Doug Morley said the group wants to impress upon
JCPenney corporate officials the value and marketing potential of a
small-town store.

“It would reflect well on JCPenney as an organization to
emphasize a store that is part of a local community, in contrast to
competitor Wal-Mart, which is usually a stand-alone store not
linked with other local businesses,” Morley said.

A separate effort is under way by the Potter County
Redevelopment Authority and the federal and state elected officials
representing Potter County.

Sylvia Venne, manager of the JCPenney stores in Coudersport and
Towanda, said those with questions or comments about the closing
can send letters to: Corporate Customer Relations, P.O. Box 1001,
Dallas, Texas 75301. Comments can also be sent via the store’s Web
page.