Circa-1921

Customers line up at the grand opening of a new Penney's store. At the time of this 1922 rendering, there were 371 "busy" stores.
Drawing from the J.C. Penney Company

 Circa-1932

Circa-1937

"The Penney Company," as J.C. himself referred to it, weathered an anti-chain store movement, which was underway by 1925. In certain circles, it was opined that chain stores were "ruining small communities." Fortunately for Penney's, Sears and Wards, a Congressional anti-chain store bill failed to pass in 1940, putting an end to said movement.