Wisconsin Rapids to get 4 new retail stores later this year

WISCONSIN RAPIDS, Wis. (WSAW) - The former Shopko location in Wisconsin Rapids will soon become home to four new retail stores after a developer from Arizona purchased the building.

After a few years of uncertainty, Wisconsin Rapids Director of Community Development Kyle Kearns said Harbor Freight, Big Lots, Marshalls, and Five Below will move into the building located at 1100 E Riverview Expressway later this year.

Shopko closed its doors in June 2019 and has sat empty since. It has forced people in Wisconsin Rapids to go outside the community to find things that Shopko used to offer.

“Serving a population of about 40,000 individuals that previously were going to other communities to meet their needs, can now stay within the community and hopefully shop at some of these stores in these different retail sectors,” added Kearns.

When Shopko stores were closing all over the nation, it was no surprise to Kearns that the one in Wisconsin Rapids followed suit. He said the new stores are seeing the demand for clothing and home goods, making Wisconsin Rapids an attractive retail market.

“We have kind of a gap in some of the retail clothing, within the community, and so Marshalls has recognized that, and is willing to step in and kind of fill that gap. I think the same goes with Home Goods and Big Lots,” said Kearns. He has high hopes and is excited for the community to see business booming again.

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