End of an era in Decorah as JC Penney store gets ready to close after Monday

JC Penney's—which has operated a store in Decorah since 1922—will close its doors on Water Street after Monday.

The company announced in March it would be closing 138 stores--and the JC Penney's store in Decorah was on the list.  A clearance sale started towards the end of May at the Decorah location and will wrap up at the end of the day on Monday.

JC Penney's Decorah store manager Valeria Kishkunas says customers at the store "have been very kind."  Store employees have received many comments about how much the Penney's store has meant to them.  Every morning since the clearance sale began there have been customers waiting for the front door to open in the morning.

The Decorah Penney's store will be open Saturday, Sunday and Monday as late as there are customers.  Items have been marked at least 75 percent off, with most items 90 and 95 percent off.  Everything in the store is being sold—even office furniture and Christmas decorations.

While Monday's closing of the Penney's store will mark the end of a 95-year stretch of a Penney's store being open in Decorah, it could also mark the end of an even longer streak: there has been a retail business on the corner of Washington and Water Streets since 1852—a period of 165 years.