Ankeny residents, rejoice! Costco is considering opening a store in the northern suburb.

Details: Costco is proposing a nearly 200,000-square-foot location east of I-35 and north of NE 36th Street near Otter Creek Golf Course.

• The store would include a tire center, gas station and nearly 800 parking spots.
• The address is listed as 4000 Northeast Spectrum Drive — a road that hasn't been built yet.

Plus, it would be the first Midwest Costco store with an attached distribution center, taking advantage of the suburb's vicinity to I-35 and I-80.

• The store is nearly 50,000 square feet larger than the average Costco because of the distribution center.
• There will be enough stalls for nearly 30 semitrucks.

The intrigue: Despite the pandemic accelerating the nation's "retail apocalypse," Costco sales are thriving, even as it eschews modern amenities.

• There are no aisle signs. No curbside pickup. No easy grab-and-go. It's the opposite of Amazon's conveniences.
• Costco's appeal is the treasure hunt experience that encourages customers to look through the store, feeling elated when they come across a good deal, similar to a store like T.J. Maxx.

The big picture: Costco's willingness to open a second metro location speaks to the metro's rapid population growth.

• Ankeny's population is expected to surpass West Des Moines, the metro's longstanding retail hot spot, within a few years.

What's next: Ankeny's Plan and Zoning Commission is considering the proposal Wednesday. If approved, it'll go to the City Council.

A new study from the University of Iowa found that the "beauty premium" — the idea that tall men and skinny women earn more money — is real.

State of play: There's longstanding research suggesting that people perceived to be more physically attractive than the average Joe or Jane earn better pay, despite no superior intellect in comparison to others.

What's new: UI researchers used 3D body scans to assess measurement data collected from 2,000+ people in the U.S. between 1998 and 2000.

• They say the technology is more accurate than self-reported measurements previous studies relied on.

What they found: Men with $70,000 annual household incomes saw a $998 income increase for every one centimeter increase in height.

• Meanwhile, women saw an association between obesity and family income. Women who met the same income criteria saw a $934 income increase for a one unit decrease in body mass index.
• And it didn't matter the other way around — women's heights or men's BMI didn't influence incomes.

The intrigue: Remote work is changing things up and probably for the better, Suyong Song, a University of Iowa associate professor of economics and finance who coauthored the study, told Axios.

• Recruiting and work over Zoom at least eliminates some of the physical attributes people can discriminate over, like height.
• "Awareness of such implicit bias is very important, like a race or gender bias," Song said.

Of note: One caveat is that the data only includes family income, not individual income, Song told PsyPost.

• The study does consider race, education, work experience and occupation.

💭 Our thought bubble: You shouldn't feel the need to change how you look to get the money you deserve.

• Instead, workplaces need to address biases and establish systems that encourage objective hiring and pay practices.

🎮 Youth esports will be offered through the YMCA of Greater DSM this fall. (Business Record)

💉 COVID-19 vaccines are now required of DSM Performing Arts staff and volunteers. (Des Moines Register)

A motorcyclist was killed in a crash Sunday that occurred when a kayak fell from a trailer of another vehicle in Allamakee County. (AP)

A 19-year-old DSM man was charged with felony child neglect after allegedly shooting his 14-year-old brother in the face with a handgun Sunday. The boy is expected to survive. (KCCI-TV)

🌽 Thank you for the ear pun, Lydia Fine of North Liberty.

High school students who witnessed the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York wrote a play about their memories of that tragic day — and you can soon catch a performance of it at the Des Moines Playhouse.

Why it matters: Nearly 3,000 people were killed in the attacks, forever shaping our lives and the course of our nation's history.

• Reflecting on that day 20 years ago is essential to helping us understand its complicated legacy, particularly in the immediate aftermath of the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Details: Local actors are performing "with their eyes" Saturday, which marks the 20th anniversary of 9/11.

• It's a "donate what you can" performance, with proceeds going to local first responders.
• Shows will take place at 8:46am and 2pm at the Playhouse, 831 42nd St. in DSM or via video on demand. Tickets are available at the Playhouse, online, or by calling 515-277-6261.

Worthy of your time: The FBI released a series of stories last week about how the attack shaped the agency.

✍🏽 What you're saying: We invite you to share stories, memories or reflections from 9/11.

• 100 words or less, please.

We'll share some in Friday's newsletter.

Nearly 9,000 people attended Water Works Pops over Labor Day, Des Moines Symphony officials told Axios yesterday.

• The two free evening performances were the symphony's first in-person concerts in more than 18 months.

The symphony's new season debuts Sept. 25th with "Beethoven's Fifth" at the DSM Civic Center