FAIRMONT — Shopko employees in Fairmont were not authorized to discuss it, but could not hide their smiles Thursday after learning that the store will remain open.

The news came a day after it was revealed Shopko in Fairmont was slated to close, with the store on a list of 105 planned closings by the Green Bay-based company, which filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection Wednesday.

But there was a reversal locally Thursday, with the company saying in a press release that it had changed its mind about the Fairmont site.

Shopko CEO Russ Steinhorst said the corporation had received significant feedback from the community about the value of the local Shopko. In addition, he said Shopko had gained financial support from its local landlord.

No one at the local store was authorized to comment on the events.

The Fairmont Shopko, built in 1985, is one of 360 stores the company operates under the Shopko, Hometown and Express names in 26 states.

Shopko had been in the process of closing more than 60 stores but on Wednesday included additional stores — including the one in Fairmont — after the bankruptcy announcement. The company has secured up to $480 million in financing from a group of lenders, headed by Wells Fargo Bank, that will allow it to continue operations. Under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, which is used when a business cannot pay its debts or creditors, Shopko will be allowed to reorganize while remaining in control of its business operations.

Shopko has been in the process of selling the records of its pharmacies. Kroger purchased records from about 40 of the pharmacies and, in December, Iowa-based Hy-Vee purchased another 22 of the pharmacies, including the one located in Fairmont. Shopko plans to auction its remaining pharmacy businesses.

James Ruben, a pharmacist, founded Shopko in 1962 in Green Bay. Shopko has 126 larger format stores and 234 Hometown locations, like the one in Estherville, which is closing.