What was perhaps the worst-kept secret of the year ended over the weekend when huge signs announcing “Store Closing” appeared in windows of the PW Market at the 580 Marketplace. Until then, company officials had insisted there were no immediate plans for the store.

“I heard months ago that the store was closing and it’s really kind of shocking,” said Dayna Speed of Castro Valley, a longtime regular shopper at the market.

One clerk, who wished to remain anonymous, told The Forum:  “I arrived to work Saturday to see the closing signs. I hope everything turns out the best for me and my creditors.”

Only a handful of the 56 workers employed by local PW six months ago remain at the store.

Shoppers, meanwhile, took advantage of sales prices, snapping up bargains as shelves quickly emptied of the most popular items.

“We have been in contact with PW’s people but have gotten no official word on when the Castro Valley location will be closing,” said Terry Gonzales, an official with United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 5 which represents PW Market employees.

Gonzales said word has gone around that Lunardi’s, Molly Stone or even Safeway might be interested in the Castro Valley site as well as one in Cupertino that is also shutting down.

Three of the remaining seven PW markets closed in the South Bay last month with the number of employees for the chain being whittled from about 500 to 200.

The company, like many similar small grocery operations have been hard-hit by competition from the expanding field of larger supermarket chains such as Railey’s, Target and Wal-Mart.