ShopKo closing eight Iowa locations

The job elimination trend continues in Iowa. In what’s being called a “reorganization”, ShopKo is closing 23 stores, including eight in Iowa. Twenty-five-hundred jobs will be lost nationwide and company spokesperson Sherrie Olsen says it’s a sign of the times. She says the economy has been difficult for retailers, the holiday season was not good, and they don’t see an end to the trend in the near future.Olsen says the closures are not clustered in any specific area. She says they reviewed all stores and made the decision based on that.Olsen says liquidation sales will commence Sunday, and all buildings should be vacant by the end of April. ShopKo is based in Green Bay, Wisconsin.