<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=18PgXM_0vhT3ayE00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=18PgXM_0vhT3ayE00" width="980" height="653" ><figcaption>Ryan "Brain" Brainard</figcaption></figure><p>I feel bad for the generations of people who will never get to experience the rush of a blue light special. The days of <b>Kmart</b> stores in the U.S. appear to be numbered. In fact, the last full-sized store is set to close next month. Then, there will be one, lone Kmart left in America.</p><p><a href="https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/last-full-size-kmart-us-close">Fox Business reports</a> that the last full-size Kmart, located in Bridgehampton, New York, will close on October 20th. A smaller Kmart store located in Miami will then become the last operating store in the United States. A few locations also remain in the Virgin Islands and Guam. The first Kmart store opened in Michigan in 1962, and by the early 1990s, there were over 2300 locations nationwide.</p><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=0wYJ6T_0vhT3ayE00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0wYJ6T_0vhT3ayE00" width="630" height="375" ><figcaption>Joe Raedle, Getty Images</figcaption></figure><p>Iowa was home to many Kmart stores including several here in the Corridor. <a href="https://www.thegazette.com/business/last-kmart-in-cedar-rapids-to-close-in-mid-december/">The Cedar Rapids Gazette reports</a> that the Collins Road Kmart, which was in business for 43 years, closed in December of 2013. The Kmart store located on 16th Ave. SW closed the previous year. <a href="https://www.thegazette.com/business/last-kmart-in-cedar-rapids-to-close-in-mid-december/">The Gazette reports</a> that the store was built in 1969.</p><p>In 2017, the Corridor's final Kmart store finally closed. <a href="https://www.thegazette.com/business/last-corridor-kmart-to-close/">The Gazette reports</a> that the final location was the Highway 6 East location in Iowa City. Kmart stores in Dubuque, Sioux City, and Waterloo also closed that same year. The official end of Kmart stores in the state of Iowa came in early 2020. <a href="https://www.keyc.com/2019/11/08/final-iowa-k-mart-stores-close/">KEYC reports</a> that stores in Algona and Charles City shut their doors in February of that year.</p><p>What will I remember about Kmart stores? I do remember shopping at the Collins Road store many times. It was a popular spot for late-night diaper runs when our kids were babies. But Kmart also gave us one of the greatest commercials of all time! Do you remember this one?</p><h2>Highest Paying Jobs in Iowa That are Hiring</h2><p>These are the top highest-paying jobs in the state currently, according to <a href="https://www.iowaworks.gov/vosnet/lmi/profiles/profileDetails.aspx?enc=Elzv7W1H4bwmL+k+/LJ5/SmAXTh9pSNHRcaHlwDOqS1BrVUktpLY3DVi/6YcJd0sYc6pAz1mT7x2OzpD2YIyjA==">Iowa Works.</a></p><h2>LOOK: Fastest-growing jobs in Iowa</h2><p><a href="https://stacker.com/iowa/fastest-growing-jobs-iowa">Stacker</a> analyzed data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics to determine which jobs in Iowa grew the fastest between 2022 and 2023.</p></div></body>

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Iowa and the Nation Bid Farewell to the Last Kmart Store [WATCH]

I feel bad for the generations of people who will never get to experience the rush of a blue light special. The days of Kmart stores in the U.S. appear to be numbered. In fact, the last full-sized store is set to close next month. Then, there will be one, lone Kmart left in America.