By Alex Paul
Albany Democrat-Herald
The Albany JC Penney store closed in 1998, but an Albany furniture store will soon begin offering JC Penney catalog services for mid-valley residents.


The retail giant will work with At Home Furniture, 930 Hill S.E. The store is owned by Kent and Cathy Wilson, who recently expanded the store’s display area to 31,000 square feet.

“They considered adding catalog stores in Lebanon and Corvallis, but decided we were centrally located, had good access to I-5, and plenty of parking space,” Wilson said of JC Penney officials.

A grand opening is planned for Sept. 12, and the Wilsons plan to add two staff members and construct a dedicated area for the catalog services.

Wilson said mid-valley residents will be able to pick up catalogs at the store or browse through them online. Orders can be placed at the store, online or at other JC Penney stores. Items can also be picked up at the Albany location.

“Customers can use our store as a will-call center,” Wilson said. “They won’t have to go to Eugene or Salem to pick things up. They can also make payments on their accounts here.”

Penney’s shoppers using the Albany location can access the retailer’s nationwide gift registry for bridal and baby items, redeem gift certificates and gift cards, and place orders toll-free seven days a week.

The shop will also feature all of the company’s specialty catalogs and will offer delivery of large items for a fee. Store hours will be 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday. Orders will be accepted beginning Sept. 7.

JC Penney was founded in 1902 as the Golden Rule Store in Kemmerer, Wyo. It offers clothing, footwear, furniture, jewelry, beauty products, electronics and housewares. In 2012, sales were $18.8 billion, with e-commerce topping the $1 billion mark. The company has headquarters in Plano, Texas.

For more information, call At Home Furniture at 926-9600.