When JC Penney shuttered its doors in downtown The Dalles two years ago, the silence was palpable.

The 22,000-square-foot space drew thousands and was known to keep its parking lot full, even on Sundays. Its closure was even postponed for several weeks in the summer of 2017 due to its popularity, with the retailer sending additional goods from other closing stores to be marketed in The Dalles.

The silence is over.