Cresco Shopko now closing

Cresco - It was less than a month ago, when the first rumblings of some Shopko Hometown stores closing. It was announced in the Jan. 16, 2019 Times Plain Dealer, that Cresco Shopko was not closing, according to a statement from Michelle Hansen, Manager Public Relations & Shopko Foundation.

After the company looked over its remaining stores, it announced on Feb. 6 that the Cresco location (store number 589) would indeed be closed, on May 12, 2019. The local business joins approximately 250 of Shopko’s chain stores that are set to close. 

Area Shopko stores that will be closing include Vinton (April 7-store 600), Oelwein (May 12-669) and Forest City (May 12-791) in Iowa and Rochester South (April 14-store 35), Austin (May 12-store 41) and Albert Lea (May 12-store 60) in Minnesota.

So far, the New Hampton Shopko store (number 668), Waukon (store 671) and Mason City (store 52) in Iowa are staying open. In Minnesota, Rochester  North (store 36) and Kasson (store 796) will also stay open for the time being. Total “Go-Forward” stores are around 120, about half the number of stores closing.

Howard County residents are sorry to see the closing of Shopko. Cresco was without a “big box” store after Alco closed in early 2015. Then Shopko came in 2016, with its grand opening March 25-27, 2016.

Jason Passmore, Business and Tourism said, “When Alco closed, we looked at all the various options that could fill that space, and Shopko was far and away our best choice. Local support has been good, and Cresco Shopko was performing well, but this is a corporate decision.

“We’re sorry to see it go. We will work with the out-of-state property owner to fill the building, once it is empty. The positive thing is, the store was supported in Cresco and Howard County, which will make it easier to fill.”