By OLIVER GOOD

Staff writer

Alco in Hillsboro will close its doors for the last time no later than Jan. 31, but before then, everything must go.

Store Manager Robert Berens recently confirmed Jan. 31 as the absolute last day Alco can be in the building. However, Alco may close sooner should all the inventory sell out.

“It’s up in the air as to how fast the inventory will sell,” Berens said. “We don’t know when the prices will drop, but it will happen soon, and we’ll be gone in the blink of an eye.”

In October, when the company first announced the closing of all 198 locations, there was no official closing date set for the Hillsboro location.

Corporate offices recently informed Berens that “four walls and the floor are all that will remain in the building,” so there is a possibility doors will close as soon as Jan. 24 to allow workers time to remove and liquidate light fixtures and other store supplies.

“We’re heartbroken things ended the way they did,” Berens said. “We’re very sorry that Hillsboro is losing two businesses with us and Heartland Foods going out, we have had nothing but good experiences with our customers.”

As of Dec. 9, no buyer had stepped forward to buy the Alco building.

Wal-Mart representatives toured the building, but opted not to buy it, prior to their decision to build a new structure for the Wal-Mart Neighborhood Market that is expected to open this spring.