Dowagiac’s Pamida store began a weeklong liquidation Monday for the upcoming conversion to Shopko, which is expected to take place in Pamida stores across the country.

Customers will find store savings of as much as 30 percent off in many departments, including apparel, shoes, sporting goods, toys, bed and bath accessories, furniture and electronics. Shopko Hometown combines Shopko’s reputation of health services and customer service with a broad offering of national brands.

“This liquidation sale is the first step in the conversion process from Pamida to Shopko Hometown, and this means great deals for our customers as we look to clear out the existing merchandise to make way for Shopko Hometown’s enhanced merchandising mix,” Paul Jones, Shopko’s president, chairman and CEO, said. “We are eager to be one step closer to bringing the Shopko Hometown experience to Dowagiac.”

According to Tara Powers, spokesperson for Shopko, the store’s pharmacy will remain open and will be accepting new patients throughout the conversion process.

“There has been confusion in some markets about this, and customers have been concerned about getting prescriptions filled,” Powers said.

“But that will not be an issue at all.”

According to Powers, employees at Pamida, 56419 Pokagon St. in Dowagiac, will make the transition with the store, with the possibility of new employee openings later. Five of the 193 Pamida stores in the United States will close.

Shopko will invest approximately $80 million into Pamida store conversions.

Once the liquidation sale is complete, the store conversion will take approximately five to six weeks and will include new interior and exterior signage, updated and supplemented fixtures, improved store design and layout, as well as an expanded merchandise mix.

Call (269) 782-5444.