The fight to save Decorah's JC Penney's store ramps up

JC Penney's announced last month that it would be closing 138 stores nationwide--including its store in Decorah.

But a group of Winneshiek County residents is working to get the company to change its mind about closing the Decorah store.

The Decorah Area Chamber of Commerce had earlier started a petition to present to Penney's management, with a view to showing the company that the Decorah store was not only profitable, but supported by the community.

Now the Chamber of Commerce is working to get 5,000 signatures on the petition by Monday, April 17th.  If you haven't yet signed the petition, you can visit https://www.change.org/p/marvin-ellison-save-the-downtown-decorah-iowa-jc-penney-store

You can also visit http://www.decorahareachamber.com and copy the letter on the website, sign it and send it directly to JC Penney CEO Marvin Ellison (the letter includes his address).

Says Decorah City Manager Chad Bird, who is one of the people working on the project, "If we stand by and do nothing, the store will most certainly close. If we engage in community discussion and speak to JC Penney leadership, it may still close but we will be further along in trying to fill a much needed void in the unique fabric of all of central Winneshiek County."