J.C. Penney Co. is preparing to launch its first retail store in Manhattan on 31st July 2009, at the 33rd Street and Sixth Avenue in Manhattan Mall. The store is planned as a two-level, 153,000-square-foot space, and will house around 100 registers and 500 associates, one of the biggest store teams for any J.C. Penny outfit.

The launch of the store is of significance, as despite a J.C. Penney Co. corporate office existing in Manhattan between 1914 to 1988, and leading competitive brands being present since years, J.C. Penny decided to launch its Manhattan retail store in 2009.

Efforts have been put into creating a unique and inviting store in the heart of New York City, reports say. Along with the store launch in Manhattan, the retailer has lined up simultaneous store launches across Hiram, Ga.; Lee's Summit, Mo.; Fairview, Texas; and Pleasant Prairie, Wis.