J. C. Penney–Chicago Store Building

Directly ahead, look for a bold red two-story corner building with big “CHICAGO STORE” letters painted across its front—mural art and arched windows will help it stand out. Welcome to the J. C. Penney–Chicago Store Building! Imagine yourself back in 1903—horses clopping down the street, the air buzzing with talk of new hope as this building first opened its doors as the Los Angeles Furniture Co. Picture families peeking through grand windows, dazzled by furnishings they never dreamed of owning. Now, fast forward a few decades—by 1942, the J. C. Penney sign took its place, and the floors creaked under the steady march of customers chasing the latest fashion deals. In 1957, the Penney magic moved across the street, and the building welcomed the Aaronson Brothers, who tried their hand at the retail game. Finally, in 1967, the Chicago Store moved in, cramming the building with music—imagine trumpets and tambourines echoing through stamped tin ceilings and old, polished wood. This place was a time capsule of Tucson’s downtown, until the bittersweet sound of hammers and saws gutted the inside from 2020 to 2022. It’s a building shaped by dreams, ambition, and maybe a little bit of mystery—just think of all the secrets these walls have heard over more than a century!