KNOXVILLE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- By all accounts, liquidation spells the beginning of the end for Goody's.

55 years of history could end in just a short time.

Mike Goodfriend opened the first store in 1953.

Now, close to ten thousand people work for Goody's in over 380 stores.

But as we know, a lot has changed over the years, and more will change as stores close for good.

One former employee told WVLT she's not surprised, the writing's been on the wall for quite some time.

But customers that have come to know Goody's for good prices and a down home feel say they'll lose another good shopping choice.

"They're all friendly in there and we work as a team," says Jenny Ho who works as a cashier for Goody's.

Ho says she's enjoyed her job as a cashier at Goody's for the last six months.

But the company could be on the way out, taking with it thousands of jobs.

"When Bob Goodfriend owned it and we all worked there it was real pleasant," says Della Pickering.

Pickering worked at Goody's distribution center for ten years, but she says when Goodfriend sold the business she saw changes, changes she didn't like and it was the writing on the wall for her.

"I took early retirement because of that. Because I got 62 and it was a good time to get old I guess," says Pickering.

Pickering is now left to worry about friends who work at the company.

"If they lose their jobs, they're going to lose their insurance, everything, and there's a lot of husbands and wives that work there," says Pickering.

But if the company is forced to liquidate, not only will employees be affected.

"Goody's been in Knoxville for a long time," says Georgia Bates who is a Goody's customer.

It will also affect customers, longtime customers, who are looking for them the right item at the right price.

"It's just another place you don't have to go. You don't have choices. You don't have choices anymore," says Bates.

For Jenny Ho, she's just hoping her six months employment at Goody's will turn into seven.

"Hopefully everything goes ok," says Ho.

Jenny says she hasn't heard anything from her bosses but continues to hope for the best.