What mall owner David Simon just said about J.C. Penney The department store chain may start selling brands that Simon owns through partnerships and acquisitions. The exterior of the J.C. Penney that closed last year in the Timber Creek Crossing shopping center in Dallas.(Juan Figueroa / Staff Photographer) 11:49 AM on May 11, 2021 CDT Simon Property Group CEO David Simon says he is “very pleased” with J.C. Penney’s results so far but acknowledges it’s “still a work in progress.” The department store chain is working to improve low morale among its workers and rebuild vendor and landlord relationships that were “burned” in its 2020 bankruptcy, Simon said during a conference call with analysts late Monday. He also said Penney may start selling brands that Simon owns through partnerships, such as its recent acquisition of Eddie Bauer with Authentic Brands Group.