Adelo's Town and Country store in Pecos -- the commercial heart of Pecos and main supply stop for tourists visiting the Pecos area for nearly a century -- soon may close.

"After 90 years, it appears that our journey with our family business has come to an end," manager George Adelo wrote on his Facebook page Tuesday morning. "After 90 years of serving Pecos families, tending to them and carrying them through tough times, we now find ourselves at the end of a long hard road."

Adelo left the door open for a reversal Tuesday, saying he hasn't decided on a closure date yet and is still hoping that a combination of good weather, renewed community support and changes to the store's product mix would allow it to remain open.

But, he said in his post, "We have done everything we can think of to keep going through these tough times, but we have run out of options."

Adelo said competition from discount chains and the economic downturn on top of drought-related closures of Pecos Canyon have all contributed to the demise of the business.

"In the past several years, the economy has changed radically," an emotional Adelo said Tuesday. "People that were employed for years and years found themselves out of work or had their hours cut and had to get two jobs," he said. With only a few hours between shifts, he said, people started buying their groceries in town because by the time they get back to Pecos, it's too late at night to shop at Adelo's.

Adelo said the arrival of Family Dollar and Dollar General in Pecos in the past several years also had a devastating effect on his business.

The general store carries hardware, plumbing supplies, fresh meat, sporting goods, liquor and dry goods.

"If we didn't have it, you didn't need it." Adelo said. "We were one -- are one -- of the last of the old-time general stores."

The store was started by Adelo's grandfather, a Lebanese immigrant named Samuel Adelo.

Samuel Adelo came to Las Vegas, N.M., in 1912, according to his grandson, and got his start as a merchant driving a wagon to the surrounding villages, where he would trade blankets, saddles and bridles for cow hides, which were sent to Chicago for tanning.

Samuel Adelo fought in World War I, George Adelo said, and when he returned, he opened what would later become Adelo's Town and Country on the first floor of the home he shared with his new bride, Lourdes Varela.

In those days, George Adelo said, his grandfather -- the third person in Pecos to own a car -- would drive to outlying settlements pick up customers, who would come into the store, pay their bill from the month before, and get more supplies.

George Adelo said he remembers his grandfather and uncles continuing this practice of transporting customers even when George was in high school.

In 1947, George Adelo said, his grandfather bought the building that currently houses the Town and Country. The structure previously housed the Harrison Country store and has been in continuous use since 1892, George Adelo said.

Samuel Adelo died in 1980, but his six sons had been running the store since 1964, George Adelo said. Only one of the sons is still alive.

George Adelo said he has been the manager of the store for the past 20 years or so.

The store helped generations of Pecos families survive hard times by extending them credit at the store, he said. But, he said, in the past several decades as the patriarchs and matriarchs of the old Pecos families died, the younger generations began to go elsewhere. "Sometimes their children and grandchildren would stay with us, and others just fell away," George Adelo said. "We could no longer depend on their loyalty. They would come get credit, and the next time I would see them would be at Smith's or Albertsons."

George Adelo said the store stopped extending credit to customers about three years ago because people stopped paying their bills. He said the store has continued the practice for "a few old-timers on Social Security."

Adelo said he hasn't made any decision about when the store's final day will be. And he hopes that by doing something "radically different" -- such as limiting the store inventory to some of its best-selling items (liquor, sporting goods, quality meat and hardware) -- that he might somehow be able to keep it open.

If the spring weather is favorable to fishing, he said, and the canyon doesn't get closed for fire danger this year, it's possible Adelo's Town and Country will live to see another tourist season.

"We've managed to make it through tough times before, and we might be able to get through this one," he said. "I don't know."

Dozens of people left more than 80 comments on Adelo's post about the store's imminent demise Tuesday offering prayers, thanks and memories of the store.

"Can't stand the thought of not having a true general store in Pecos," one wrote. "Sure will miss the comforting ambiance of the Pecos landmark."

"This is the worse news ever!" wrote another. "Pecos will never be the same!"

One local resident, Betty Weseman (known locally as Betty from the bank), tried to inspire people to recommit to helping the store survive.

"I don't think many of you realize the impact the closing of Town & Country will have on our beautiful village," she wrote. "What about those of you who use T&C as a bank for check cashing? What about those of you who get your WIC [Women, Infants and Children] supplies there? What about those of us who think they have the best meat in the world? What about the old fashioned way they let you charge til payday? What about their Western Union? I can't even imagine this village without this quaint store. Let's rally!!!"

Contact Phaedra Haywood at 986-3068 or phaywood@sfnewmexican.com.