Savanna Shopko will close May 5

SAVANNA – Count the Savanna location as among the Shopko stores that will be closing in the coming months.

Company officials have included the store at 251 S. Fourth St. in the more than 100 locations across the country that will be closed beginning in March. Savanna shoppers will have a few months to grab bargains: Their store is estimated to be open until May 5, according to a list released by Shopko officials.

That Carroll County store is the only one in the region that’s being eliminated; the Shopkos in Dixon and Freeport are not on the closure list.

Other Illinois stores that will be closing are in Monmouth, Dwight, Monticello, Mount Carmel and Tuscola.

Savanna store managers referred questions to the company’s media relations department, which did not return calls seeking comment.

Savanna Mayor Chris Lain has said he will gather economic development officials in the city and region to work to find a new tenant for the building as soon as possible after Shopko moves out.

The Savanna Shopko opened in August 2012 in the building that formerly was a Pamida store.

Wisconsin-based Shopko Stores filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection as part of its reorganization plan. Shopko has more than 360 stores in 24 states with 18,000 employees.