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J. C. Penney's

201-203 E Main

Highway 26 South

1916

03 24 New Store In Watertown. “The Golden Rule” is the name of a new store which will open in the Strauss and Sette building in Watertown tomorrow, Saturday, March 25, 1916. The proprietors are J.C. Penney Company who own and operate 125 stores.

1959

03 04 A remodeling program which included new decorating, new fixtures, enlarging departments and increased office space has just been completed by the Watertown J. C. Penney Co. store. A gain of 50 square feet of selling space was accomplished on the second floor by moving the office to vacant space in the Kresge building. At the same time the maze of tubes centering in the cashier's office were removed and replaced with cash registers in each department. WDT

1983

06 28 The J. C. Penney Store, located at 201 Main Street, will move this fall to the former Schuler Super Valu building, adjacent to ShopKo, 701 South Church Street, according to James Frisch of Milwaukee, developer of the South Church Street property. Frisch said, “We have entered into a lease agreement with the Penney people on that location. We expect remodeling work in the new building will get underway this summer and the store should move into its new quarters this fall.” The Schuler store became vacant earlier this month when Ed Schuler opened his new Pick ‘n' Save store at the north end of the shopping center.

10 06 The new Penney's Store on highway 26 south will open for business and celebrate its grand opening on Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 9 a.m., according to Larry Dodd, manager of the store. Ken Clausen, former manager of Penney's, and other officials will attend the grand opening. The new facility will open at the former site of Schuler's Food Store. It is now located at 201 East Main Street. Dodd said the new store will double the amount of space for merchandise and there will be “an enlarged merchandise mix in all departments.”

11 07 Penney's will have a bright new look in a new facility starting Sunday when the new store on highway 26 south opens for business. The old store at 201 East Main Street will close its doors for the last time today. Grand opening for the new store is set for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 9, when city officials and other dignitaries will be on hand for the ribbon cutting ceremony. Participating at the opening will be Mayor Ken Thiel, Chamber of Commerce President Reno Sukow, Miss Watertown, and other city officials. Mike Ashpole of the regional office, Schaumburg, Ill., and Dale Myhre of the district office, Davenport, Iowa, will attend as well as managers of other Penney's stores from the area. WDT

1984

05 05 Grade opening of Kline’s, former Kresge and J C Penney bldg WDT

1997

07 05 The J. C. Penney Co. has been gone from Watertown for several years, but the memories lingered when 46 past and full-time employees met to reminisce at Plattdeutscher Hall. The idea of a reunion became a reality after Ruthie Pugh and Bonnie Gallup initiated the event and started contacting people. With the help of Lois Bartz and Donna Koser, former employees responded with enthusiasm. Old acquaintances were renewed during the social hour, followed by dinner. Interesting and humorous incidents that happened over the years were recalled. WDT

2009

03 02 Penney catalog service returns J. C. Penney, for many years an anchor store in downtown Watertown and later in the South Church Street shopping complex, will return to Watertown next month in the form of a catalog service. A J. C. Penney Catalog Service Center will be located in Draeger’s Floral and Gifts, 616 E. Main St. Operated by Palmer and Judith Draeger, the catalog merchant center will offer shop-at-home and online catalog ordering services beginning April 28. Orders may be picked up at the service center or delivered directly to homes or offices. Copies of the spring and summer catalogs will be available when the service center opens for business on April 28. WDT

Cross Reference:

Penney's, 1925, The Golden Rule, 117 E Main

Gerda Allermann, 30 year employee