Tallgrass Grocery Cooperative filed for protection from its creditors under federal bankruptcy law Friday, claiming $51,598 in debts, including $351 due to the Iowa Department of Revenue, and $4,673 in assets. The West Des Moines organization said in late summer that it was having difficulty paying its bills and announced that it would close its West Des Moines location. According to the filing in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Iowa in Des Moines, Tallgrass Grocery had about 800 members. It reported gross receipts of $123,742 as of Oct. 1 and $159,124 for 2011.