The Kennewick Shopko and
Prosser Shopko Hometown stores aren’t included on a list of 38 stores
scheduled for closure nationwide, though four others in the state are on the
list.
The Yakima and Pullman
stores will close in April and stores in Spokane and Lacey will close in March.
Shopko announced Jan. 16 that it has
filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
“This decision is a difficult, but
necessary one,” said CEO Russ Steinhorst in a statement. “In a challenging
retail environment, we have had to make some very tough choices, but we are
confident that by operating a smaller and more focused store footprint, we will
be able to build a stronger Shopko that will better serve our customers,
vendors, employees and other stakeholders through this process.”
Shopko is also relocating more than 20 of
its optical centers to freestanding locations and conducting an auction for its
pharmacy business. Throughout this process, all Shopko optical centers and
pharmacies remain open.
The company, which employs more than
18,000 people, said the court filing will allow it to pay wages, salaries,
benefits and to pay vendors and suppliers.
Shopko has obtained up to $480 million
debtor-in-possession financing to help fund and protect its operations during
the Chapter 11 process, according to a company news release.
Shopko opened its first
store in Green Bay, Wisconsin, in 1962. It operates more than 360
store in 26 states.