The stores are just a fraction of the 150 that will be closing across the U.S.

Sears Holdings announced Wednesday they're closing 78 Kmart stores and 26 Sears stores. Those are in addition to the 30 Kmart and 16 Sears closings that were announced December 27. The Kmart and Sears closings announced December 27 did not include any Iowa stores.

Kmart stores in two eastern Iowa cities will close this spring. They are located at 3810 University Avenue in Waterloo and 2600 Dodge Street in Dubuque. A third Iowa Kmart, in Sioux City, will also close. All of the stores will close at the end of March and liquidation sales will begin as soon as this Friday.

According to a release from Sears Holdings, "Many of these stores have struggled with their financial performance for years and we have kept them open to maintain local jobs and in the hopes that they would turn around. But in order to meet our objective of returning to profitability, we have to make tough decisions and will continue to do so, which will give our better performing stores a chance at success. Eligible associates impacted by these store closures will receive severance and will have the opportunity to apply for open positions at area Kmart or Sears stores.”

The Iowa City Kmart at 901 Hollywood Blvd. remains open.

Cedar Rapids has been without a Kmart for more than three years. Kmart west on 16th Avenue closed in 2012, and its former building is now home to MidAmerican Aerospace. The east side Kmart closed in December of 2013. That location is now home to Collins Crossing.

More From 94.1 KRNA