The J.C. Penney store at Independence Mall in Wilmington is not on the list of more than 130 store closings released Friday by the national retailer.

Last year, J.C. Penney renewed its lease at Independence Mall until 2021, according to a report related to the $110 million loan on the nearly 500,000-square-foot portion of Independence Mall that includes the J.C. Penney store.

The loan, which has been in default since 2014, led loan holder JP Morgan to initiate foreclosure proceedings, but on March 9, a New Hanover County Superior Court judge approved the pending sale of Independence Mall to Rouse Properties.

Rouse Properties is a publicly traded (NYSE:RSE) real estate investment trust that owns and manages 35 regional malls and retail centers in 21 states, including North Carolina.

Losing an anchor tenant can be catastrophic to a mall or shopping center, and six in North Carolina are losing their J.C. Penney stores: Albemarle Crossing in Albemarle, Boone Mall in Boone, Eastridge Mall in Gastonia, Blue Ridge Mall in Hendersonville, Monroe Crossing in Monroe and Becker Village Mall in Roanoke Rapids.

But the closures are necessary, J.C. Penney Company Inc. officials said in February, for long-term profitability. About 5,000 jobs nationwide will be affected, and most of the stores that are closing will begin liquidating inventories on April 17, according to a J.C. Penney news release.

Although the company is shutting down 138 stores and a supply chain facility in Lakeland, Florida, J.C. Penney will still operate about 900 locations.

“We believe closing stores will also allow us to adjust our business to effectively compete against the growing threat of online retailers. Maintaining a large store base gives us a competitive advantage in the evolving retail landscape since our physical stores are a destination for personalized beauty offerings, a broad array of special sizes, affordable private brands and quality home goods and services," said Marvin R. Ellison, chairman and CEO of J.C. Penney, in the release. "It is essential to retain those locations that present the best expression of the JCPenney brand and function as a seamless extension of the omnichannel experience through online order fulfillment, same-day pick up, exchanges and returns.”