National Retailer Will Close Two Iowa Stores Amid Restructuring

Earlier this month, it was announced that in an attempt to "increase customer engagement, drive traffic, and recapture market share", Bed, Bath And Beyond would close 150 stores and approximately 20 percent of its workforce. It wasn't known at that time what, if any, Iowa locations would be shuttered but a recent report has given us that information.

As the company heads into the critical holiday shopping season. Iowa's News Now reports that 2 of the stores on the chopping block will be in Eastern Iowa.

Bed, Bath &  Beyond will likely continue to be mired in massive restructuring for the foreseeable future as its stock reportedly plummeted 21 percent on Wednesday alone and 65 percent in the last 12 months.

It's also planning to scale back on the sale of its store-branded items and focus more on sales of national brands, according to brand President Mara Sirhal.

We must get back to our rightful place as the home-category destination, and our goal is to achieve this by leading with the products and brands our customers want

With the fiscal second quarter having ended this past Saturday, the company expects a 26 percent decline in sales compared to the same period last year.

The two area stores closing are in Waterloo and Dubuque, while Cedar Rapids and Coralville appear to be safe at this time. CNBC published the company's full list of currently planned closures here.

Want to keep up to date with the latest in local and music news? Download our app! It's completely free and not only will you be the first to know about breaking news, but we'll also keep you updated on concerts and other events coming to the area. You'll also have exclusive opportunities to win tickets. What are you waiting for? Get the free app today.