Shopko

[gu4ever]

I really like the new modern Shopko sign and the stores interior design package.
The store looks neat and well layed out with impressive signage thru-out it's store.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

Shopko store #001 still has some work to do when it comes to interior renovations. Right now, the interior is a mixed bag of styles from 1991 and 1999 to the present. The Payless ShoeSource sign also need to be updated, even if the logo looks ugly to some people.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

A ShopKo commercial from the 1990s:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wob3x-up5nE

[dmx10101]

Shopko focuses on rural consumers with new merger
January 4, 2012 | By Marianne Wilson

GREEN BAY, Wis. â€" Shopko Stores Operating Co. said Wednesday that Shopko and Pamida will merge to create one of the largest U.S. retailers focused on serving smaller and rural communities. The combined entity will have nearly 350 locations in 22 states and plans to accelerate new store growth in the second half of 2012 and beyond.

Financial details of the merger, expected to close in mid-February, were not disclosed. Both companies are owned by affilates of the private equity firm Sun Capital Partners.

The combined company will be based in Shopko’s home base of Green Bay, Wis., and will use the Shopko name. It will be led by Shopko president, chairman and CEO W. Paul Jones. Pamida president and CEO John Harlow will serve on the leadership team and help direct the integration process.

There will be no change to Shopko's stores, and approximately $80 million will be invested over the next 12 months in the conversion of most of Pamida's locations to the Shopko Hometown store concept and brand. Developed over the past three years, the Hometown format combines pharmacy services with general merchandise categories ranging from apparel to toys to electronics in s smaller-sized footprint that ranges from 15,000 to 35,000 sq. ft.

"Merging Pamida and Shopko is a great move for our businesses and our customers given our complementary strengths, store networks and consumer-centric retail models," said Jones. "The Shopko Hometown store format, featuring our unique merchandising strategy and improved store design, is an ideal fit for the smaller communities that Pamida serves with its exceptional service and community-minded approach. We intend to be the leader in this category by combining the best of Shopko and Pamida in our aggressive new store growth plans."

With annual revenues of $2 billion, Shopko operates 149 stores in 13 states located throughout the Midwest, Mountain and Pacific Northwest regions.  Omaha, Neb.-based Pamida operates 193 stores in 17 states, primarily in the Mountain, North Central and Midwest regions, and has revenues of approximately $1 billion.

[retailisking]

Deja vu: Pamida was part of ShopKo for several years and now will be again, although this time the Pamida banner will disappear. Pamida will shutter its Omaha HQ as part of the (re)merger, and an undetermined number of Pamida stores will close:
http://www.omaha.com/article/20120105/MONEY/701059943#omaha-loses-pamida-hq-in-shopko-merger

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

Monmouth, Illinois before remodel:


Monmouth, Illinois after remodel:


Burlington, Iowa:


Fort Madison, Iowa:


These locations were originally home to Jack's Discount Stores until Shopko bought them out in 1997.

[ynkeesfn82]

I still wish they would come to Connecticut. There are still some good places they can go:

1. 655 Farmington Avenue New Britain, CT a former Walmart store around 80,000 Square Feet

2. 566 West Main Street Meriden, CT a former Railroad Salvage Store around 70,000 Square Feet in Centennial Plaza with a small 46,500 Square Foot Stop & Shop Supermarket

3. 1201 East Main Street Meriden, CT a former Lowe's Store with around 125,000 Square Feet in the Meriden Parkade.

4. New Britain Avenue Plainville, CT across from Lowe's Plaza (Plainville Commons) next to Big Y Plaza. (9 Acre Vacant Parcel of Land).

5. Webster Square Plaza Berlin/Kensington, CT. There is an vacant A&P Foodmart (that's being squated on by Stop & Shop) plus a Harbor Freight Tools location along with a big hole where they never rebuilt the plaza after a massive fire in 1996. They can knock all that down and build there. Pretty much any size they want.

*Fantasy Location* 1235 Farmington Ave Bristol, CT. If there was a way to convince Sears Hardware & Appliance Store along with The Salvation Army Thrift Store and Aaron's Furniture & Rental to move across town to the former 54,000 Square Foot Shaw's Supermarkt they could combine those 3 spaces plus the vacant Marshall's and get around 82,000 Square Feet for a store.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

I just discovered a YouTube channel, known as "Shopkoislife" (a.k.a. "The Shopko Parody Connection"), devoted to Shopko-themed hip-hop songs by DJ Plano. Here's a link to the channel, if you want to check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/user/Shopkoislife/videos

[retailisking]

That old ShopKo street sign reminds me of how common it was back then for retailers to resort to Scottish stereotyping to adobt a frugal brand image. Safeway had a discount line of products called "Scotch Buy" that even extended to beer and cigarettes!

It's also interesting how many chains got their start in 1962. In addition to ShopKo, there was Crate & Barrel, Kmart, Kohl's, Michaels, Motel 6, Rich's Department Stores, Rite Aid, Taco Bell, Target, Walmart, Woolco, and undoubtedly others that skipped my mind.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

Shopko Celebrates 50 Years of Service;
Retailer Continues to Evolve with Expansions, Acquisitions

by Nathan Phelps
Green Bay Press-Gazette

When Dale Kramer joined Shopko to launch its in-store pharmacy program in 1971, the retailer was battling with other larger stores for market share.

Ultimately it prevailed and Shopko is now celebrating 50 years in business as current leadership expands retail operations further into its core market of decades past â€" small communities.

"We were a small regional (retailer) fighting big regional (retailers) and chains," Kramer said about joining the company in the early 1970s. "(Founder) Jim Rueben's strategy was to enter small and mid-sized markets, recognizing the big chains would not get there."

Kramer, who is retired and living in Florida, spent more than three decades with the company, including serving as Shopko's president from 1991 to 1999.

Shopko turns 50 as it continues to evolve, including the acquisition of Pamida stores, a deal that closed March 1. That move adds more than 185 stores to Shopko's portfolio and is expected to add 130 jobs to the Ashwaubenon headquarters.

Plans call for Shopko to convert Pamida locations to the Shopko Hometown store format at a cost of about $80 million.

Once the Pamida conversions are complete, the company said it will also look to add new Shopko Hometown stores later this year and into 2013.

Shopko is owned by Sun Capital Partners Inc.

Hometown

Mike Bettiga, a 35-year veteran of Shopko who started as staff pharmacist and is now its chief operating officer, said the market has changed quite a bit in the last three decades.

"There was us and a Kmart and a lot of independent retailers," he said. "That's been the most dramatic change over this time frame, the rise of the big-box retailers into all these markets … and the proliferation of chain drugstores. Just all the competition that has come in over all these years."

The merger with Pamida and expansion of the Hometown stores are aimed at growing the company into smaller communities and areas where Shopko doesn't have a presence.

"The types of markets we've been in historically, the opportunities for retail growth are limited as we go forward. There are Kmarts, Targets, Walmarts, Penneys and Sears. Throw in some chain drugstores and those markets are pretty saturated," Bettiga said. "In Hometown-type markets there is an opportunity to create a destination store within that market and give those customers a reason to stay right there and shop."

Hometown stores, which are smaller than main stores, carry a mix of consumer goods and electronics, convenience items, foods and pharmacy services.

In essence, Shopko created a smaller version of its stores and took it to smaller communities not served by competitors.

The first stores â€" converted Pamida locations â€" opened in the summer of 2010 and were followed by more that fared well. That led to the idea of merging with Pamida.

"Our whole future growth strategy is going to be around finding the hundreds and hundreds of communities across the states we compete in to find a financially viable way to add one of these small stores," said W. Paul Jones, Shopko chairman, president and CEO. "This is a business model that really doesn't exist out there. … This is the future."

He said the merger and expansion of Hometown stores doesn't change the company or brand.

"We're simply taking it to markets where they don't have access to our brand," he said. "I would describe it as an evolution. We continue to adapt to the market conditions and to the needs and voids in the marketplace."

Through the Years

Shopko â€" named Shopco in initial discussions â€" hit headlines in March 1961 when founder James Ruben and a group of investors announced plans to open a $1 million department store at 216 S. Military Ave., Green Bay.

That idea became a reality in April 1962 when the store opened. By the early 1970s, Shopko built its headquarters building in Ashwaubenon and announced plans to put pharmacies in its stores. It added optical in 1978.

By 1977, Shopko had 21 stores and in 1981 it opened its 30th store. It had expanded to 87 stores in 1988 and the company's sales were in excess of $1 billion.

Among the changes the store has undergone was the 1991 decision to change up its product mix to appeal to a female customer base. The stores dropped some items, like bulk paint and large automotive and hardware offerings, for things like fashion, home, health and everyday basics and seasonal products.

Kramer said the company took some knocks over those changes, but it's a move that paid off.

"We found a way to differentiate ourselves from the bigger chains, and that was a major move for us," he said. "By giving up some of those male-orientated categories, it hurt us and we took a pretty good beating for a couple of years … but it was the right decision because ultimately we focused on the woman and it worked."

Long Odds

In the last four years Shopko has opened four new locations â€" including one in Suamico â€" and established its smaller Hometown concept stores in communities like Oconto, Seymour and Kewaunee.

With finalization of the Pamida merger, Shopko has about 350 locations in 22 states, and more than 20,000 employees, the company said earlier this month. It has anuual revenues of about $3 billion.

Kramer said he's not surprised by the growth of Shopko over the decades â€" due in large part to the vision of Rueben, the strategy of management and the dedication of the company's employees.

"Back in the '70s, all the magazines that covered the discounters had given regional discounters very little chance of survival," he said. "I think we were given like 6-to-1 odds of being around another five years.

"The fact Shopko is here today is a tribute to all the members of Shopko … because we were the only regional discounter that survived the influx of Walmarts and Targets," Kramer said. "There were a lot of strategies put into place that helped Shopko grow and to compete favorably, and profitably, against the giants."

Jones agrees.

"There's no reason we should be here with the kind of competition we have … if it weren't for the extraordinary commitment and contributions of the teammates we have," he said. "There's no rational way to explain it."

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

Shopko in Dubuque, Iowa (former Zayre/Venture location):
Exterior:

Close-up:

After exterior renovation:

Interior (the light fixtures are a bit different, but it still has the typical Shopko layout):

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

How many of you are waiting for the the expansion of Shopko?
Here's a link to a map of where the Shopko and Shopko Hometown Stores are located so far:
http://www.shopko.com/locator

[d_fife]

I was in SPringfield IL and I saw the Shopkos GONE! I saw a pamada in Ohio say coming soon shopko hometown sttore

[JimSawhill]

How many of you are waiting for the the expansion of Shopko?
Here's a link to a map of where the Shopko and Shopko Hometown Stores are located so far:
http://www.shopko.com/locator

North Dakota doesn't have a ShopKo??  I wonder when it'll come to CT?

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

Shopko buys naming rights for Lambeau Field's south gate

South gate to open in 2013

Updated: Monday, 23 Jul 2012, 6:21 PM CDT
Published : Monday, 23 Jul 2012, 10:55 AM CDT

GREEN BAY - Ashwaubenon-based retailer Shopko will sponsor the new south gate at Lambeau Field.

The Green Bay Packers announced the naming rights deal Monday.

The Shopko Gate will be part of what the Packers are calling a “south end” neighborhood of Lambeau Field, which includes concession stands, escalators and restrooms to serve the 7,000 fans that will be added to the area when the current $143 million project is completed.

The Shopko Gate is expected to open in 2013.

Source: WLUK-TV "FOX 11"/fox11online.com

[retailisking]

http://host.madison.com/wsj/business/shopko-uses-a-new-approach-to-serve-smaller-communities/article_a8911aea-0fe1-11e2-8046-0019bb2963f4.html

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

I was in SPringfield IL and I saw the Shopkos GONE! I saw a pamada in Ohio say coming soon shopko hometown sttore

The Shopko stores in Springfield did not perform well lately.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

My latest discovery: layouts of select Shopko discount department stores are being mapped out by Google maps, right down to the little details, such as the checkouts, restrooms and in-store Payless ShoeSource departments.

Here's a list of all the Shopko stores (excluding Shopko Express Rx and Hometown stores) that have their layout mapped out by Google Maps. If there is no mention of the mapping by the location mentioned, that means Google hasn't gotten around to mapping that location yet.

001 - Green Bay, WI - 216 Military Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
002 - Ashwaubenon, WI - 301 Bay Park Square (Bay Park Square Mall) [Pharmacy/Optical] (Store layout mapped out on Google Maps alongside the neighboring Bay Park Square Mall directory)
003 - Manitowoc, WI - 3415 Calumet Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
004 - Green Bay, WI - 2430 E Mason St. (East Town Mall) [Pharmacy/Optical] (Store layout mapped out on Google Maps)
005 - De Pere, WI - 230 N Wisconsin St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
007 - LaCrosse, WI - 4344 Mormon Coulee Rd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
008 - Rothschild, WI - 1105 E Grand Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
009 - Marshfield, WI - 1306 N Central Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical] (Store layout mapped out on Google Maps)
010 - Marquette, MI - 1150 W Washington St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
011 - Kingsford, MI - 500 S Carpenter Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
012 - Wisconsin Rapids, WI - 1100 E Riverview Expressway [Pharmacy/Optical] (Store layout mapped out on Google Maps)
014 - Beaver Dam, WI - 822 Park Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
015 - Appleton, WI - 1000 Northland Ave. (Northland Mall) [Pharmacy/Optical] (Store layout mapped out on Google Maps; the neighboring Northland Mall not yet mapped)
016 - Escanaba, MI - 2530 First Ave. N (Delta Plaza Mall) [Pharmacy/Optical]
017 - St. Cloud, MN - 4161 2nd St. S [Pharmacy/Optical] (Store layout mapped out on Google Maps)
018 - West Bend, WI - 1710 S Main St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
019 - Watertown, WI - 701 S Church St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
020 - LaCrosse, WI - 2400 Rose St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
021 - Mankato, MN - 1850 Madison Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
022 - Mitchell, SD - 1900 N Main St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
023 - Hutchinson, MN - 125 Main St. N [Pharmacy/Optical]
024 - Eau Claire, WI - 955 Clairemont Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical] (Store layout mapped out on Google Maps)
025 - Marshall, MN - 1200 Susan Dr. [Pharmacy/Optical]
026 - Beloit, WI - 2761 Prairie Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
027 - Racine, WI - 4801 Washington Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
028 - Kimberly, WI - 800 E Maes St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
029 - Madison, WI - 7401 Mineral Point Rd. [Pharmacy/Optical] (Store layout mapped out on Google Maps)
030 - Janesville, WI - 2500 US Highway 14 [Pharmacy/Optical]
031 - Kenosha, WI - 5300 52nd St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
032 - Madison, WI - 2101 W Broadway [Pharmacy/Optical]
033 - Menasha, WI - 1578 Appleton Rd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
034 - Madison, WI - 2602 Shopko Dr. [Pharmacy/Optical]
035 - Rochester, MN - 2820 Highway 63 South [Pharmacy/Optical]
036 - Rochester, MN - 3708 Highway 63 North [Pharmacy/Optical]
037 - Chippewa Falls, WI - 2677 State Highway 53 [Pharmacy/Optical]
038 - Grand Island, NE - 2208 N Webb Rd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
039 - Lincoln, NE - 4200 S 27th St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
040 - Sioux City, IA - 3025 Hamilton Blvd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
041 - Austin, MN - 1209 18th Ave. NW [Pharmacy/Optical]
042 - Oshkosh, WI - 1300 Koeller St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
044 - Omaha, NE - 3020 S 84th St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
045 - Bellevue, NE - 601 Galvin Rd. South [Pharmacy/Optical]
046 - Omaha, NE - 5646 N 90th St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
047 - Lincoln, NE - 100 S 66th St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
048 - Norfolk, NE - 2005 Krenzien St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
049 - Aberdeen, SD - 500 N Highway 281 [Pharmacy/Optical]
050 - Fond Du Lac, WI - 616 W Johnson St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
051 - Fort Atkinson, WI - 1425 Janesville Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
052 - Mason City, IA - 615 S Monroe Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
053 - North Platte, NE - 510 E Philip Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
054 - Watertown, SD - 700 9th Ave. SE [Pharmacy/Optical]
055 - Stevens Point, WI - 1200 Main St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
056 - Omaha West, NE - 14445 W Center Rd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
057 - Winona, MN - 405 Cottonwood Dr. [Pharmacy/Optical]
058 - Worthington, MN - 1755 N Humiston Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
059 - Fairmont, MN - 1001 S Highway 15 [Pharmacy/Optical]
060 - Albert Lea, MN - 2610 Northbridge Ave. (Northbridge Mall) [Pharmacy/Optical]
061 - St. Cloud, MN - 501 Highway 10 SE [Pharmacy/Optical]
062 - Great Falls, MT - 301 Northwest Bypass [Pharmacy/Optical]
063 - Pocatello, ID - 4215 Yellowstone Highway (Pine Ridge Mall) [Pharmacy/Optical]
064 - Nampa, ID - 2100 Caldwell Blvd [Pharmacy/Optical]
065 - Boise, ID - 8105 Fairview Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
066 - Spokane, WA - 9520 Newport Highway [Pharmacy/Optical]
067 - Twin Falls, ID - 1649 Pole Line Rd. East (Magic Valley Mall) [Pharmacy/Optical]
068 - Idaho Falls, ID - 800 E 17 St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
069 - Coeur D'Alene, ID - 217 W Ironwood Dr. [Pharmacy/Optical]
070 - Spokane, WA - 13414 Sprague Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
072 - Lewiston, ID - 2120 Thain Grade [Pharmacy/Optical]
073 - Union Gap, WA - 2530 Rudkin Rd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
075 - Missoula, MT - 2510 S Reserve St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
076 - Sioux Falls, SD - 1601 W 41st St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
078 - Rapid City, SD - 1845 Haines Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
079 - Wausau, WI - 200 South 18th Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical] (Store layout mapped out on Google Maps)
080 - Madison, WI - 2201 Zeier Rd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
081 - Yakima, WA - 5801 Summit View Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
082 - Murray, UT - 5959 S State St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
083 - Sandy, UT - 2165 E 9400 South [Pharmacy/Optical]
084 - West Jordan, UT - 1553 W 9000 South [Pharmacy/Optical] (Store layout mapped out on Google Maps)
085 - Taylorsville, UT - 5800 S Redwood Rd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
086 - Provo, UT - 2266 N University Parkway [Pharmacy/Optical]
087 - Ogden, UT - 1818 Washington Blvd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
088 - Layton, UT - 1150 N Main St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
089 - Walla Walla, WA - 1600 W Rose St. (Blue Mountain Mall) [Pharmacy/Optical]
090 - Grafton, WI - 1771 Wisconsin Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
091 - Logan, UT - 1341 N Main St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
092 - Kennewick, WA - 867 N Columbia Center Blvd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
093 - Bend, OR - 60 NE Bend River Mall Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
095 - Boise, ID - 2655 S Broadway Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
096 - Redding, CA - 55 Lake Blvd. [Pharmacy only]
097 - West Valley, UT - 4850 W 3500 South [Pharmacy/Optical]
098 - Eugene, OR - 2815 Chad Dr. [Pharmacy/Optical]
099 - Onalaska, WI - 9366 State Highway 16 [Pharmacy/Optical] (Store layout mapped out on Google Maps)
100 - Neenah, WI - 699 Green Bay Rd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
101 - Sioux Falls, SD - 4501 E Arrowhead Parkway [Pharmacy/Optical]
102 - Marinette, WI - 2741 Roosevelt Rd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
104 - Brigham City, UT - 747 S Main St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
105 - Orem, UT - 125 S State St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
106 - Billings, MT - 905 S 24 West [Pharmacy/Optical]
107 - Bountiful, UT - 190 S 500 West [Pharmacy/Optical]
108 - Spanish Fork, UT - 955 N Main Street [Pharmacy/Optical]
109 - Riverdale, UT - 4060 Riverdale Rd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
110 - Sugarhouse, UT - 2290 S 1300 East [Pharmacy/Optical]
111 - Salem, OR - 1230 Lancaster Dr. SE [Pharmacy/Optical]
112 - Helena, MT - 3101 Montana Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
113 - Lacey, WA - 5500 Martin Way [Pharmacy/Optical]
114 - Duluth, MN - 801 W Central Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
116 - Sheboygan, WI - 518 S Taylor Dr. [Pharmacy/Optical]
119 - Dixon, IL - 1350 N Galena Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
120 - Monroe, WI - 405 W 8th St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
122 - Wenatchee, WA - 1340 N Wenatchee Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
123 - Houghton, MI - 900 W Memorial Dr. [Pharmacy/Optical]
125 - Freeport, IL - 555 W South St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
127 - Delavan, WI - 1450 E Geneva St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
128 - Kalispell, MT - 1370 Highway 2 East [Pharmacy/Optical]
129 - Spokane, WA - 4515 S Regal St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
130 - River Falls, WI - 1777 Paulson Rd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
132 - Rice Lake, WI - 320 Highway O [Pharmacy/Optical]
133 - Belvidere, IL - 1400 Big Thunder Blvd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
134 - Pullman, WA - 1450 Grand Ave [Pharmacy/Optical]
139 - Quincy, IL - 3200 Broadway [Pharmacy/Optical] <former Jacks Discount Store location>
140 - Jacksonville, IL - 1964 W Morton Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical] <former Jacks Discount Store location>
141 - Burlington, IA - 313 N Roosevelt Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical] <former Jacks Discount Store location>
142 - Fort Madison, IA - 4810 Avenue O [Pharmacy/Optical] <former Jacks Discount Store location>
145 - Monmouth, IL - 1190 N 6th St. Rd. [Pharmacy/Optical] <former Jacks Discount Store location>
164 - Dubuque, IA - 255 John F. Kennedy Rd. [Pharmacy/Optical] <former Venture store #27>
169 - Meridian, ID - 3499 E Fairview Ave. [Pharmacy/Optical]
170 - Rhinelander, WI - 2200 Lincoln St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
171 - Plover, WI - 1800 Plover Rd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
172 - Lincoln, NE - 3400 N 27th St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
175 - Lincoln, NE - 6845 S 27th St. [Pharmacy/Optical]
177 - Suamico, WI - 2320 Lineville Rd. [Pharmacy/Optical]
178 - Sussex, WI - N66W25201 County Highway VV [Pharmacy/Optical]
179 - North Branch, MN - 5630 St. Croix Trail [Pharmacy/Optical]
180 - Council Bluffs, IA - 3271 Marketplace Dr. [Pharmacy/Optical]

As you can see here, Google Maps has gotten around to mapping a handful of Shopko stores. Other places Google has mapped layouts of, include big box retailers like Best Buy and The Home Depot, shopping malls (including the Mall of America), some supermarket chains, and some restaurants.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

Shopko plans two more Hometown stores

Dec 13, 2013, 10:45am CST
Updated: Dec 16, 2013, 2:07pm CST

By David Schuyler, The Business Journal

Shopko Stores Operating Co. LLC of Ashwaubenon said Thursday it will open two more Shopko Hometown stores in May 2014, including one in Mayville.

In addition to the Mayville location, Shopko will open a store in Valentine, Neb., in an expansion of the company's Hometown retail format, which largely includes former Pamida stores. Shopko and Pamida merged in March 2012.

Shopko Hometown stores focus on smaller rural communities and offer products in apparel, home furnishings and consumer electronics, among other areas. There will be more than 180 Hometown locations when the new stores open.

[Stork of The Weak]

I'm sorry ShopKoFan but I really, really doubt ShopKo will expand significantly outside the west anytime soon, if ever. This isn't saying new people wouldn't like ShopKo if given the opportunity to experience it, but Walmart is such a vicious competitor, and even then Kmart still has a monopoly in some areas due to no land availability for a new Walmart or Target. And Target has already entered 49 states (Vermont being the only exception so far), not to mention they are very similar to ShopKo in every way, if not slightly more upscale. If that weren't bad enough for new players in this industry, the Christmas Tree Shops chain owned by Bed Bath & Beyond seems to be imitating Target in every way, except with much smaller stores, similar in size to the Woolworth and Kresge stores of the past. Also it seems Meijer has no interest in growing outside their core region, though they have used at least a few former Kmart store sites, which might be a model to grow upon as Kmart continues to shrink. Now if Kmart/Sears ever does go out of business, that might open the country up for ShopKo/Meijer expansion, but as it is, Kmart/Sears will do anything to stay in existence, even if it means stores are closing one by one.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

I'm sorry ShopKoFan but I really, really doubt ShopKo will expand significantly outside the west anytime soon, if ever. This isn't saying new people wouldn't like ShopKo if given the opportunity to experience it, but Walmart is such a vicious competitor, and even then Kmart still has a monopoly in some areas due to no land availability for a new Walmart or Target. And Target has already entered 49 states (Vermont being the only exception so far), not to mention they are very similar to ShopKo in every way, if not slightly more upscale. If that weren't bad enough for new players in this industry, the Christmas Tree Shops chain owned by Bed Bath & Beyond seems to be imitating Target in every way, except with much smaller stores, similar in size to the Woolworth and Kresge stores of the past. Also it seems Meijer has no interest in growing outside their core region, though they have used at least a few former Kmart store sites, which might be a model to grow upon as Kmart continues to shrink. Now if Kmart/Sears ever does go out of business, that might open the country up for ShopKo/Meijer expansion, but as it is, Kmart/Sears will do anything to stay in existence, even if it means stores are closing one by one.

I agree with all of this. I've been keeping up with the local news outlets (ABC, NBC, CBS, and FOX) and the local newspapers, and here is some of the info I've gathered:

Shopko:

* Staying focused on expanding their "Hometown" store format (a majority of which were former Pamida stores) instead of competing directly with Walmart or Target, in the store's home state of Wisconsin as well as the states surrounding it.

Meijer:

* Meijer is currently expanding into Wisconsin, with stores in the area surrounding Milwaukee, set to open in 2014. Meijer is planning to open three locations in the Green Bay area. Only one of those planned areas was leaked to the public via our local FOX affiliate. Meijer is also currently expanding in Illinois and Indiana.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

Shopko does not carry everything Walmart or Target or Kmart carries, like Spanish or other foreign language DVDs, like Televisa's El Chavo del 8 and its animated spinoff, El Chavo Animado, for example.

[d_fife]

will Shopko expand? And how come its not in Chicago, SEattle, Portland, Minneapolis but has stores in those states?

[TheFugitive]

will Shopko expand? And how come its not in Chicago, SEattle, Portland, Minneapolis but has stores in those states?

ShopKo, like Ames, seems to prefer rural and small-town locations.
They would have to make some big adjustments in order to succeed in those markets.
Zayre in particular had some big problems with their urban stores in Chicago, which
Ames inherited after the merger.  ShopKo may prefer to grow the company by expanding
their current format to more similar markets, rather than making the adjustment needed to
break into the big cities.

[Stork of The Weak]

What's up with Payless ShoeSource having a partnership with ShopKo? I think of Payless as bottom of the barrel and seedy, but ShopKo seems so much higher quality. But I must say it almost makes me respect Payless more if ShopKo decided to team up with them, enough for the money from shoe sales at ShopKo to instead go to the Payless owners.

[TheFugitive]

Is that perhaps some type of a leased department deal?
Like the arrangement Ames used to have with J. Baker Shoes?

[store215]

What's up with Payless ShoeSource having a partnership with ShopKo? I think of Payless as bottom of the barrel and seedy, but ShopKo seems so much higher quality. But I must say it almost makes me respect Payless more if ShopKo decided to team up with them, enough for the money from shoe sales at ShopKo to instead go to the Payless owners.

I can't think of one discount chain with decent shoes. Kmart (used to?) lease out their shoe departments. The shoes at Walmart and Target are about the same level as Payless quality and price-wise.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

will Shopko expand? And how come its not in Chicago, SEattle, Portland, Minneapolis but has stores in those states?

ShopKo, like Ames, seems to prefer rural and small-town locations.
They would have to make some big adjustments in order to succeed in those markets.
Zayre in particular had some big problems with their urban stores in Chicago, which
Ames inherited after the merger.  ShopKo may prefer to grow the company by expanding
their current format to more similar markets, rather than making the adjustment needed to
break into the big cities.

Shopko has locations in Salt Lake City, Utah, which happens to be their largest market.
Shopko also has a location in Boise, Idaho, and Shopko used to have a few stores in Peoria and Springfield, Illinois, before they pulled the plug on those markets due low attendance and sales figures.

[TheFugitive]

Boise ain't Chicago.  That was my point.

[Retail Fan+ (Justin Hill)]

Boise ain't Chicago.  That was my point.

Point taken.