National Hirschfeld filed for bankruptcy protection late Friday, a little more than a week after announcing it planned to shutter a printing business that has operated for more than a century.

The company still plans to close its Smith Road facility in Denver by Jan. 30. But its chairman, Barry Hirschfeld, issued a statement saying the Chapter 11 filing "offers us the opportunity to work with parties who may be interested in acquisition, in whole or part, of the company."

Bankruptcy protection allows the company to avoid immediately selling off its assets so it can evaluate expressions of interest in the company, Hirschfeld said.

"After exploring financial alternatives to no avail, our decision to close is a firm one, but this filing offers us options that might not have been otherwise available to us," Hirschfeld said.

The company announced Jan. 14 it would cease to operate by the end of January. It laid off all of its 250 workers without giving them 60 days notice by claiming an exception that allows "faltering" companies to avoid giving advance warning to workers.

National Hirschfeld's bankruptcy filing listed Gould Paper Corp. as the company's largest creditor. It owes the Chicago concern about $1.1 million.

Of the 20 largest creditors, local companies include: XPEDX, $797,183; Colorado Envelope of Broomfield, $83,581; Case Paper, $77,191; and United Transportation Services in Aurora, $49,804.

The 101-year-old company has long handled printing jobs for various nonprofits, businesses and government entities. Over the years it has handled everything from Colorado tax forms to Dish Network channel directories. In addition to brochures, catalogs and corporate stationery, it has printed many regional tourism magazines and portions of Qwest's phone directories.

kelleyj@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-5068