If you're working on a late-night project or want to get some groceries on your way home after a night out, soon you won't be able to do it at the three Walmart stores in the Cedar Rapids metropolitan area. All three stores are revising their hours, beginning next week.

Listener Dan Reed let me know that he had learned the Marion Walmart would be closing during the overnights, beginning Saturday, February 1. When I called the Marion store this morning, an employee confirmed that the store will close from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m. each day.

I visited the two Cedar Rapids locations this morning to find out their plans. Greeting customers as you walk in the door at the Blairs Ferry Road location is the sign below. Employees of the store confirmed these hours actually takes effect on February 1:

Bob James

Employees at the west side Walmart location also confirmed their hours will change to 6 a.m. to midnight, effective February 1.

Why the change? My attempt to speak with a manager at the west side Cedar Rapids location was not successful, but numerous employees at both Cedar Rapids stores told me they believe it is at least in part due to the amount of theft during overnight hours.

One employee told me they were hearing all 24-hour Walmarts around the nation will be adopting the new hours. However, employees at both the Iowa City and Coralville stores said their hours were not changing.

This isn't the first time some Walmart stores have ended 24-hour shopping. Last March, WJAC reported that 100 Walmart stores were going to be closing for part of each day before the year was over. At that time, Walmart spokesman Justin Rushing said, "By shifting these hours, we're able to make sure more associates are on the floor during peak customer times, resulting in better customer service."