Vacant J.C. Penney Set for Upgrades, Improvements

A real estate investor has plans to restore a former J.C. Penney building at 324 E. San Antonio Ave. in downtown El Paso. Michael Johnson of MJ Real Properties Inc. said he wants to restore the 91-year-old building’s original brick exterior to attract retailers to the ground-floor space. He is also considering adding 10 to 12 loft apartments to the second floor of the two-story building.

The Penney’s store operated in downtown El Paso for 88 years, and was shuttered in 2017, as part of the retailer’s national downsizing. Penney’s still has a presence in El Paso. Johnson acquired the 10,000-square-foot building through an online auction in late 2018.

The planned renovation will remove mortar panels covering most of the building’s original brick exterior. The original windows will be restored, while new and refurbished metal awnings will be installed.

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