MT. VERNON/CENTRALIA — Borowiak’s IGA stores in Centralia and Mt. Vernon will be closing their doors after years of struggling against dropping sales.

Store officials say the Centralia store was hit hard by the opening of the new Walmart Supercenter 3 years ago, which has taken a 40-percent bite out of sales. When Borowiak’s started to build back some sales from that hit, it took another with the opening of a new Dollar General a few blocks from the store.

In Mt. Vernon, they say the traffic flow changed dramatically when the new high school was built on the other side of town, resulting in a 35-percent drop in sales at the Mt. Vernon location.

Borowiak’s has operated the Centralia store for the last 16 years and Mt. Vernon for 18. Prices at both locations will be discounted to eliminate inventory. Fresh meat and produce will continue to be brought in until inventory is close to being liquidated.

The stores are expected to close within 60 days, or until inventory is gone. Other Borowiak IGA’s in Southern Illinois will remain open.