LAPLACE — The aisles are still largely filled with merchandise, but there are clearance signs and red dots everywhere.

Some of the good stuff is long gone, but there are bargains to be had at Fred’s discount store, which recently announced it would be closing its doors Feb. 19.

The store is the last large business in a once-thriving strip mall located at 2021 West Airline Highway in LaPlace.

The closed K-mart store eventually became New Wine Christian Church after being vacant for many years.

A few smaller shops still dot the western side of the mall and the new Pelican Pointe car wash is under construction in the middle of the parking lot.

That lot has been pretty full recently as shoppers are drawn by the “store closing” signs.

On a recent afternoon, shoppers from across the region were strolling the aisles searching for treasures and bargains.

One local woman pushed a nearly full buggy down the aisle. While she was happy to scoop up a few things, she was sad to see the store close.

“It’s close, it’s convenient,” she said. “I don’t know why it’s closing.”

The company, which is based in Georgia, reports there are more than 650 general merchandise stores across the southeast and more than 320 pharmacies.

In an email, a company spokesperson offered no specific reason for the store closing.

“The LaPlace store is being closed, and Fred’s Pharmacy is doing everything possible to make the transition seamless for employees,” the statement read.

A LaPlace store employee, who asked not to be named, said the corporate office informed the local store it was closing all non-pharmacy locations.

“We used to have a pharmacy, but they closed it,” the worker said, adding many local customers have complained about the closing. “I think some of them have even called the corporate office to try and keep it open.”

One shopper from Gonzales searched for bargains after coming to the store to buy a phone.  “I didn’t even know they were closing,” the woman said. “I knew they had some good phones, so I came here for that.”

Another shopper holding an arm full of picture frames said he might come back next week when prices might be slashed even more. “I’ll come back when everything’s 50 percent off,” he said.