Shopko closes in May

Shopko closing in May

Story and photos by Gary Bégin
Wenatchee and the area economy are about to take a major hit as  Shopko will close in May.
What is known in some circles as small town America's version of Walmart, ShopKo, is closing its doors in Wenatchee forever after providing bargain deals, a pharmacy and even an vision center  for more than a decade.
Local pharmacy competitor Walgreens is already soliciting Shopko prescription drug customers.
A vision center manager said it would continue to operate, but at another location, since it was merely leasing space from Shopko and not actually past of the company itself.
Some retail experts say Amazon is to blame.
Shopko is a chain of retail stores based in Ashwaubenon, Wisconsin. Shopko was founded in 1962 by James Ruben, and its first store opened in Green Bay. From 1991 to 2005, the company was publicly held, with stock traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol SKO.
Headquarters: Ashwaubenon, WI
Customer service: 1 (800) 869-5819
Number of locations: 363 (2019)
CEO: Peter McMahon (Nov 25, 2013–)
Revenue: 3.3 billion USD (2018)
Parent organization: Specialty Retail Shops Holding Corp.
A rumor has also been floating around Wenatchee that Sav-Mart, a Wenatchee retailer for over 100 years, was also closing in May, but company spokesmen deny such ideas are true.