my $current_hour = strftime( "%H", localtime() ); # say it's 9:59, so "9" is returned.
# ... your process is switched off the processor...
my $current_minute = strftime( "%M", localtime() ); # now it's 10:00, so "00" is returned.

##</code><code>##

#my $store_close = "7:05 PM";

my $store_close = "19:05";
my ($close_hour, $close_minute) = split( /:/, $store_close );
my ($current_minute, $current_hour) = (localtime)[1,2];