It is one of four JCPenney stores being closed in Iowa, according to a company press release. A total of 138 stores nationwide and one supply chain facility in Lakeland, Florida, will also be closed.

The department store has been an anchor at the Crossroads Mall for more than 50 years.

JCPenney said this closing will allow the company to “effectively compete against the growing threat of online retailers,” according to a statement from Marvin R. Ellison, chairman and chief executive officer.

The company achieved its first net profit in 10 years in 2016, Ellison said in the press release.

-Messenger photo by Joe Sutter JCPenney at the Crossroads Mall will be closing in the next few months, as the company closes nearly 140 stores nationwide to better compete with online sales.

“We believe we must take aggressive action to better align our retail operations for sustainable growth,” he said.

Crossroads Mall has been aware this was a possibility, and has been preparing for the future, the mall said in a statement.

“The mall has been reviewing redevelopment options and has been in some early discussions with potential new retailers,” the statement said. “One such redevelopment plan … would convert the former 70,913-square-foot J.C. Penney space into two new units ranging in size from 18,500 to 21,000 square feet. The plan would also include the demolition of approximately 20,000 square feet of the mall.

“This would provide the space for three junior anchors that would have exterior entries to a new parking field.”

This could be the first step in a multi-phased redevelopment plan, said Patrick Listermann, chief operating officer for J Herzog & Sons Inc., of Denver, Colorado, which owns the mall.

“JCPenney has been a great tenant for the mall,” said Larry Jessen, the Crossroads Mall general manager. “While we are sad to see JCPenney close, we are energized about the future potential to bring new stores and services to the Fort Dodge community.”

The Fort Dodge closing will impact about 45 employees, said Christina Voss, manager of corporate communications and public relations for JCPenney.

The company said the total store closures represent approximately 13 percent to 14 percent of its current store portfolio, less than 5 percent of total annual sales, and 0 percent of net income.

“Comparable sales performance for the closing stores was significantly below the remaining store base and these stores operate at a much higher expense rate given the lack of productivity,” the company said.

The company said associates who will be impacted by the store and distribution center closures will receive separation benefits, which includes assistance identifying other employment opportunities and outplacement services such as resume writing and interview preparation.

It will also create a voluntary early retirement program.

Fort Dodge Mayor Matt Bemrich said overall Fort Dodge is doing well in retail, although it’s sad to see JCPenney go.

“It’s of course an unfortunate circumstance any time we lose a retailer, considering the amount of energy and effort the city has put into recruiting retail over the last number of years,” Bemrich said, “but it’s the dynamics of the industry. I don’t think it’s reflective of our commercial retail market. It think it’s more a reflection of the health of Penney’s as a corporation nationally.

“I definitely feel for the families and anybody who is employed at Penney’s,” he added. “Hopefully there will be more opportunities for additional retail jobs in the future with the development we’re working on with the Hutton group.”

Hutton Growth LLC, of Chattanooga, Tennessee, has plans to demolish the former Sears store which was once an anchor of the Crossroads Mall until it closed in January 2015. Although the building is connected to the mall, it and the mall have different owners.

Hutton intends to build a new shopping center where the former Sears now stands.

That center may offer the same kind of items once sold at Penney’s, Bemrich said.

“Maybe different brands, but I think the same types of product lines will be part of the retail being offered by Hutton,” he said.

When it opened in October 1965, The Messenger reported the Crossroads Mall’s store was the “newest, largest and most complete J.C. Penney Store in Iowa.” The 72,000-square-foot store boasted an enlarged clothing section. There was also an 8,000-square-foot JCPenney Auto Center in a standalone building to the northeast, which later served as a Blockbuster Video and currently is vacant.

At that time there were 67 Penney stores in Iowa.

Today there are 15, Voss said.

The store moved to the mall after 30 years in downtown Fort Dodge, in a six-level store at 808 Central Ave.

JCPenney opened its first store at 827 Central Ave. Sept. 4, 1925. After 10 years in that location, it moved to 808 Central Ave.