Scolari’s closed its doors for good at its four Central Coast supermarket locations at 7 p.m. Wednesday after more than 60 years in business.

Employees had known the day was coming since April 12, when Scolari’s announced it planned to close its supermarkets in Paso Robles, Pismo Beach, San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara to refocus on its 14 Nevada locations. But that didn’t seem to make their final day on the job any easier.

Inside the stores, a pall of sadness filled the air. Caution tape blocked the aisles, cutting off access to empty shelves. A steady stream of bargain-hunting customers picked through grocery baskets filled with odds and ends such as greeting cards, soap-bubble solution, fly swatters and candles.

Employees, some of whom had worked for Scolari’s for more than 20 years, stood at their registers with tear-filled eyes as longtime customers said their goodbyes.

What will go into the spaces Scolari’s is vacating remains to be seen. Owners of those buildings have said they are in discussions with several retailers who might be interested in leasing the sites, but they would not elaborate.