MONROE – After three decades at Monroe Crossing, Waldenbooks will close its doors for the last time in January.

The store’s parent company, Borders Group, will close 200 mall stores, leaving about 130 mall-based locations.

Waldenbooks has been in what was until recently known as Monroe Mall for 30 years, and is the only general interest book store in the county. Book shoppers can still find a limited selection of general interest titles at Walmart, Kmart and Target, and shop at The Book Lady secondhand book shop and a few small Christian book stores.

“We will reduce the number of stores with operating losses, reduce our overall rent expense ... and generate cash flow through sales and working capital reductions,” Borders Group Chief Executive Officer Ron Marshall said in a statement.

Mall marketing manager Sarah Enten said Monroe Crossing had not officially been notified by Friday and declined to comment, but Waldenbooks manager Todd Morris said he was told Thursday afternoon.

The closings will result in 1,500 layoffs nationwide, most of them part-time positions.

Mary Davis, Borders Group spokeswoman, would not say how much space the store currently occupies at Monroe Crossing but said the average Waldenbooks is 3,640 square feet.

Enten said mall owner Madison Marquette hires leasing agents to attract local and national companies to the mall, but did not comment about the mall’s rental rates. She added that during the holiday season, the mall will be at full occupancy.

As long as Waldenbooks is open, it will honor previously purchased gift cards, which can also be used in any Borders or Waldenbooks location or online. There will be no change to a customer’s Borders Rewards customer loyalty program membership.