Litchfield's longtime Family Dollar closing down

The shelves are emptying and items are half-off at the Family Dollar in Litchfield, which is closing down after nearly three decades.

The opening of a new Dollar General store just down the road seemingly foretold the closure of the business at 507 North Sibley Avenue, which opened in 1996 in the town's former Snyder Drug.

It will be one of hundreds of Family Dollar stores to close its doors this year, with parent company Dollar Tree announcing it plans to shutter 1,000 stores across its network following surprise quarterly losses.

Local resident and realtor Steve Knisley, who helped sell the building to its current owner 20 years ago, is now stepping up with plans to bring new life to the property.

Knisley and two business partners are set to take over ownership in June, at which time the building will undergo a remodel to make way for its next chapter.

According to Knisley, multiple yet-to-be-announced tenants are planned for the 7,000-square-foot-building, which will soon be given new entrances, windows and other upgrades.

Related: Dollar Tree, Family Dollar to close 1,000 stores following losses