Encyclopedia Dubuque
"Encyclopedia Dubuque is the online authority for all things Dubuque, written by the people who know the city best.”
Marshall Cohen—researcher and producer, CNN
Affiliated with the Local History Network of the State Historical Society of Iowa, and the Iowa Museum Association.
WACKER PLAZA
WACKER PLAZA. Plans for the construction of Wacker Plaza were announced on November 21, 1989 by Davis Realty of West Des Moines. The first five businesses included Chi Chi's Mexican Restaurante, Ben Franklin Crafts, Blockbuster Video, Western Auto Supply and The Pella Window Store. Construction costs of $3.2 million were financed by AMERICAN TRUST AND SAVINGS BANK. The five stores were expected to be opened by April 1990. (1)
Located at the intersection of U.S. 20 West and Wacker Drive, the site in 2007 included among other businesses: ShopKo, Pendelton, Blockbuster, Aroma Coffee, Cold Stone Creamery, Moondog Music, Aaron's, and Advance Auto Parts. (2)
In March 2019 company officials announced that their Shopko store in Dubuque would be closing in mid-June. The store at 255 John K. Kennedy Road opened in the spring of 1999. Prior to that the store had been occupied by Venture Stores for about a decade and Zayre until it closed in 1988. The retail chain based in Wisconsin had previously filed for bankruptcy citing excessive debt and competitive pressure. (3)
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Source:
1. Pritchard, Ken. "Fifth Business Set for Wacker Plaza," Telegraph Herald, November 21, 1989, p. 3A
2. http://www.accessdubuque.com/discover/?category=Shopping
3. Montgomery, Jeff, "Shopko to Close All Stores," Telegraph Herald, March 19, 2019, p. 1