‘Definitely going to be missed,’ say residents as Family Dollar store abruptly shuts with barely any warning
FAMILY Dollar is closing the doors of another location and residents aren't taking it well.
The news follows Family Dollar's announcement that it planned to shut down 35 Ohio locations this past month.
The Conesville, Ohio location at 16160 Township Road 287 opened in January 2021 with plans to employ seven to 10 sales associates, reported the Coshocton Tribune.
A recent announcement revealed the store has plans to employ no one, with the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services saying that some, if not all, employees would be let go by April 20, per a layoff notice.
Some fans of Family Dollar are already feeling the strain without their favorite local discount store.
Ohio resident Donna Woodie said the location is "definitely going to be missed by [herself] and others," in a post on the Coshocton Tribune's Facebook page.
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Another shopper commented, saying she frequented the store as much as twice in one day.
"I live like a minute from there it was so convenient just not for me but for many others," she said.
Mayor Jennifer McFarland told the Coshocton Tribune the closure will likely hit the community hard.
"Without the store, residents no longer have easy access to affordable essentials and everyday items. This can be especially challenging for those who rely on the store for their shopping needs, particularly individuals with limited transportation options," she told the Coshocton Tribune.
"I think myself and a lot of others would agree it was just a huge convenience for everyday items we needed. We’re all sad to see it go, but remain hopeful that something else will come in and bring that convenience back."
Not everyone is mourning the store loss in the same manner though.
"It was barely even open," wrote one Facebook user who suspected the store's sales suffered due to "road construction."
Another shopper echoed a similar sentiment, writing, "You never took into consideration the road construction and could care less about the people who shopped there."
Other Family Dollar locations in Coshocton County include those in Coshocton and Walhonding, outside New Castle.
CONSISTENT CLOSURES
Struggling to stay afloat, Family Dollar closed 34 other Ohio locations on or around April 20, with 10 alone closing in Cincinnati.
A recent earnings call with Rick Dreiling, CEO, and chairman, revealed the problem persists much further than one state.
At least 1,000 dollar stores to close, CEO says
Dollar Tree, the parent company of Family Dollar, revealed it would close around 1,000 stores in the coming years.
The company announced in March that it will shutter the stores after the discount retailer it acquired nearly a decade ago plummeted in value.
Dollar Tree plans to close about 600 Family Dollar stores in the first half of this year.
This will be followed by the shuttering of 370 Family Dollar and 30 Dollar Tree stores over the next several years.
The chain of discount variety stores has also indicated that sales are being affected by the cost-of-living crisis and inflation.
But USA Today added that Dollar Tree has also been rocked by reduced government benefits for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
This has left families struggling to juggle finances, with as much as $250 less per month.
Earlier in April, the company announced it was losing 1,000 stores, resulting in a net sales loss of approximately $730 million.
The first half of fiscal year 2024 will see 600 closures, while 370 Family Dollar and 30 Dollar Tree stores are slated to shutter their doors in the next several years as their leases end.
Customers hoping their local Family Dollar stays afloat might find themselves fed up with the store's upcoming price hikes.
Though the discount store will keep most items at $1.25, it's expanding to include items up to $7.
Price hikes can be expected on food, snacks, pet care items, and personal care.
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Meanwhile, Rite-Aid is closing down four more locations.
But Costco just got the green light to open one of the world's largest warehouses in California.