Betty sent a message to Marvin R. Ellison – President of J. C. Penney Company Inc.- email address that said:
I have heard and read so many good things about you and what a great job you are doing for JC Penney! So, I am not necessarily sure that you need my advice, nor, did you ask for it; however, I do feel compelled to offer it anyway. I live in Greenville, OH which is a town of a little more than 13,000 fine people. For years, and I do mean years, JC Penney was a huge part of the retail landscape. Penney's started out on main street and then moved to a strip mall location. It was always a popular store and, if the Greenville news has it correct--received an award for sales--unfortunately, that news came out at the same time as the news that JC Penney's was closing its store in Greenville. People in Greenville shook their head! Sadly, we were losing a fine store and we could not get it to make sense that a store that received an award for sales was being closed! However, life does go on but, I can tell you, there still is a need and want for JC Penney's in Greenville (we are the County seat-did I mention that?). Not sure if you are aware how small towns are working hard, very hard, to survive. Greenville is winning the fight! We have a vibrant, active downtown that would surely amaze you! Perhaps you have heard of the "Main Street" movement? Really, what I am trying to get at, is, please consider the Main Streets as options for store locations--in Greenville, JC Penney started out downtown, on Broadway (our main street). I have heard many times, that Penney's should never have moved from downtown. I agree. Penney's roots are deep and have been part of main streets for years! I would hope someday that Penney's returns to their roots.
If you are a Facebook-er go to Main Street Greenville--you will like what you read! I hope you will like it enough to consider opening a store downtown--we do miss Penney's.