ALCO to Shutter Stores in Arizona and Nationally

ALCO IMageSmall-town discount retailer ALCO Stores will close after a U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Dallas approved an order by the company’s creditors to shutter its stores.

The company filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October, with plans to either sell or liquidate its business. In the filling, Also cited a “lingering economic slowdown” for its situation, and said it hoped to sell better-performing stores while liquidating the rest. But in court papers filed this week, ALCO said it has been unable to find any buyers to keep the stores open.

ALCO had $474 million in net sales in its latest fiscal year. That was a 2% decline from the year before.

The company was established in 1901 and grew to operate 198 stores in 23 states in the central U.S. It sells home furnishings, outdoor products, electronics, sporting goods and clothing.

“ALCO’s humble beginning as a single variety store in 1901 began a path of growth fueled by a strategy of focusing on smaller communities throughout the Midwest, Southeast and Southwest while offering a wide selection of products at heavily discounted prices,” said Daniel Kane, managing member of Tiger Capital Group. “In addition to the convenience of being able to shop locally, the chain distinguished itself by emphasizing the kind of friendly, personal service that small-town consumers expect. Unfortunately, many of ALCO’s small-town customers were disproportionately impacted by the slow economy.

ALCO Stores in Arizona to close include:

  • ALCO Willcox, AZ, 510 North Bisbee Avenue, WILLCOX, AZ 85643
    ALCO Wickenburg, AZ, 2031 West Wickenburg Way, WICKENBURG, AZ 85390
    ALCO Springerville, AZ, 207 S. Mountain Avenue, Springerville, AZ 85938
    ALCO Holbrook, AZ, 1515 Navajo Blvd., HOLBROOK, AZ 86025
    ALCO Chino Valley, AZ, 1950 N. Highway 89, CHINO VALLEY, AZ 86323
    ALCO Bisbee, AZ, 1101 S. Naco Highway, Suite 131 Valley View Shopping Center, BISBEE, AZ 85603
    ALCO St. Johns, AZ, 1730 West Cleveland P.O. Box 2040, ST. JOHNS, AZ 85936

ALCO has its corporate headquarters in suburban Dallas, Texas, and its distribution center in Abilene, Kansas.