NEW ULM — News of Herberger’s closing sent dozens to New Ulm’s store Wednesday to lament the loss of the store at the heart of the city’s downtown economy.

Bon-Ton Stores, Inc., a chain of 200 regional department stores that includes Herberger’s, headed toward liquidation in a court-supervised auction Monday.

For the time being Herberger’s will remain open and staffed, but despite the steady business on Wednesday, there was a sense of gloom hanging over the store. All day customers came into the store to offer condolences to the employees. It was not unusual for a clerk to receive a hug from a customer at checkout.

Joannie and Greg Hillesheim do all their clothing shopping at Herberger’s and are uncertain where they will turn to now.

“Where else are we going to go?,” asked Joannie. “We want to stay shopping in New Ulm.”

Greg said everything they were currently wearing was purchased at Herberger’s.

Sara Rieger said she started to cry when she first heard the news of the store closing.

“[Herberger’s] was at the heart of New Ulm,” she said. “I have no reason to come downtown.”

Her routine was to visit Herberger’s, head across the street to other shops and finish at the Backerei, but that has all changed now. Rieger said she would especially miss the makeup selection at Herberger’s. It was the one place she could get her favorite brand.

Nicki Dummer was shocked to hear of the store closing. She came into Herberger’s Wednesday, unaware anything was different. Dummer found out the store was closing when she tried to order a new pair of shoes and found out the store was no longer part of the system because of the upcoming liquidation.

Dummer was devastated by the news because Herberger’s was her go-to store for shoes and nice dresses. She also had family that worked in the store. Upon hearing the news, she, too, went to offer support and sympathy to the staff.

Randy Danielson, the landlord for the Herberger’s section of the mall, confirmed the store would be liquidated. He received an official call about the store’s fate Wednesday morning.

Danielson said he had known this was coming for some time due to inconsistencies with rental payments.

Neither Danielson nor the Herberger’s staff was aware when the store would officially close operations or how long the liquidation process would take.

Danielson said he was looking into options for the retail space, once Herberger’s is gone. As it was still early, he could not offer any firm details, but said a least part of the store was likely to remain retail.