<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0203</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>3/A</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2010-12-17</periodOfReport>

    <dateOfOriginalSubmission>2010-12-30</dateOfOriginalSubmission>

    <noSecuritiesOwned>0</noSecuritiesOwned>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000030302</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>DUCKWALL ALCO STORES INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>duck</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001140022</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AVIVA PLC</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ST HELENS</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1 UNDERSHAFT</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>EC3P 3DQ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001140211</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>AVIVA INVESTORS GLOBAL SERVICES LTD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>NO. 1 POULTRY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>LONDON</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>EC2R 8EJ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001414662</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Aviva Group Holdings LTD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>ST. HELEN'S</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>1 UNDERSHAFT</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>EC3P 3DQ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001510181</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Aviva Investors Holdings LTD</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>AVIVA INVESTORS GLOBAL SERVICES LIMITED</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>NO. 1 POULTRY</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>LONDON</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>X0</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>EC2R 8EJ</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription>UNITED KINGDOM</rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>0</isDirector>
            <isOfficer>0</isOfficer>
            <isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner>
            <isOther>0</isOther>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock, par value $.0001</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>233283</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>1</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">(1) Includes 233,283 shares owned directly by Aviva Insurance (Europe) plc (AIE) and excludes 226,874 shares owned directly by Aviva Life &amp; Pensions Ireland Limited (ALPIL).Aviva Investors Global Services Limited (AIGSL) serves as investment manager to ALPIL and AIE. AIGSL is a wholly owned sub. of Aviva Group Holdings Limited (AGHL), which is a wholly owned sub. of Aviva plc. AIGSL, AIHL, AGHL and Aviva Ltd may be deemed the indirect beneficial owners of the reported securities. In addition to Aviva Ltd, AIGSL, AIHL and AGHL are deemed to be reporting persons for purposes of this Form 3, in each case as a 10% owner. The reporting persons disclaim beneficial ownership of these shares except to the extent of each person's pecuniary interest in the shares. The addresses of AIGSL, AIHL and AGHL are c/o Aviva Investors Global Services Limited, No.1 Poultry, London, England EC2R 8EJ</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>Neil Whittaker</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2011-01-18</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
