It's the end of an era for New England shoppers that looked for good deals and a no-frills shopping experience.

Channel 12 is reporting that Benny's Inc. will close all 31 of its stores by the end of this year, including SouthCoast locations in Fairhaven, South Dartmouth and Wareham. The Fall River location previously announced last month that it would close its doors by the end of January 2018.

According to the report, Benny's employees were being informed Friday afternoon that Benny's President Arnold Bromberg and his siblings--the grandchildren of Benny's founder Benjamin Bromberg, who began the chain in 1924--have decided to retire and shut the company down.

The company currently employs 715 employees, more than half of which are full-time.

Bromberg said that Benny's is currently fielding offers for its land and buildings.

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