Family Dollar announces closure of two stores in single city sparking shopper frenzy with 50% sale off everything

FAMILY Dollar announced it would be closing two of its stores in one city as shoppers scramble to take advantage of a 50% off everything sale.

Hundreds of deal seekers were drawn to the stores in downtown Trenton, New Jersey after the company shared the news.

One location on East State Street had a manageable flow of shoppers while the other store on Chambers Street was packed to the brim.

The store had three cashiers working, however, it was difficult to keep up the pace.

The closures come just two weeks after parent company Dollar Tree announced that 600 Family Dollar stores would be closing.

Over the next few years, about 30 Dollar Tree stores, will also close, the company said in a press release.

"While we are still in the early stages of our transformation journey, I am proud of what our team accomplished in 2023 and see a long runway of growth ahead of us," said Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Rick Dreiling in the release.

"As we look forward in 2024, we are accelerating our multi-price rollout at Dollar Tree and taking decisive action to improve profitability and unlock value at Family Dollar."

An employee at the Family Dollar told The Trentonian that the closure "only hurts the people in this community who will have no place to shop that's close.

"It's a shame," she added.

The employee, who chose to remain anonymous, started working at the Family Dollar in October after a nearby Walgreens had closed.

"I’ll find another job. I have no problem with working," she said.

Partial list of Family Dollar stores closing down

These are the closures announced this far

Alabama

Slocomb: 534 Lawrence St

Florida

Tallahassee: West Brevard Street

Illinois

Peoria: two stores in the city will close

Mississippi

Canton: 1074 Peace St

Clinton: 222 Clinton Blvd

Collins: 816 Main St

Columbus: 60 Mike Parra Rd.

De Kalb: 14916 Hwy. 16 W.

Drew: 144 W. Park Ave.

Durant: 369 E. Madison St.

Eupora: 1960 Veteran's Memorial Blvd.

Flora: 101 Mansker Dr.

Jackson: 3707 S. Siwell Rd.

Jackson: 1201 University Blvd.

Louisville: 401 S. Church Ave.

Monticello: 713 E. Broad St.

Natchez: 395 John R. Junkin Dr.

Newton: 188 Northside Dr.

Okolona: 511 W. Monroe Ave.

Pearl: 621 S. Pearson Rd.

Pearl: 3123 U. S. Hwy. 80

Philadelphia: 800 E. Main St.

Philadelphia: 1325 Point Breeze Avenue

Philadelphia: 4701 West Girard Avenue

Philadelphia: 1925 West Allegheny Avenue

Philadelphia: 1955 West Hunting Park Avenue

Philadelphia: 2201 West Cambria Street

Philadelphia: 2459 Kensington Avenue

Quitman: 548 S. Archusa Ave.

Raymond: 825 E. Main St.

Missouri

Humansville

Willow Springs

Nebraska

Gering

New Jersey

Middletown

North Carolina

Wilmington: Greenfield Street

Wilmington: Carolina Beach Road

Ohio

East Liverpool: 15 Walnut St

West Dayton: 440 N James H McGee Blvd

South Carolina

Clearwater: 4403 Jefferson Davis Highway

Virginia

Lynchburg: Campbell Ave

Lynchburg: Federal Street

Quamaine, another employee, who didn't give his last name, said his Family Dollar position was his second job.

"I’ve been here for about a year. So, I’ll still be working," he said.

GONE FOR GOOD

The news comes just as Family Dollar announced it would close six stores in Pennsylvania.

The Department of Labor and Industry of Pennsylvania shared the shared the locations that will shut down:

• 1325 Point Breeze Avenue, Philadelphia
• 4701 West Girard Avenue, Philadelphia
• 1925 West Allegheny Avenue, Philadelphia
• 1955 West Hunting Park Avenue, Philadelphia
• 2201 West Cambria Street, Philadelphia
• 2459 Kensington Avenue, Philadelphia

The closures will go into effect on April 20, according to the notice, and an estimated 62 employees will be affected.

As is the case in Trenton, many stores are holding closing sales ahead of the closures.

One location in Dayton, Ohio, offered everything at 50% off.

Meanwhile, another location in Tallahassee, Florida held a clearance sale before closing.

SUDDEN CLOSURES

Family Dollar has faced issues due to inflation, which weakened the buying power of shoppers.

Customers have also begun searching elsewhere to get the lowest price.

"We finished the year strong, with fourth-quarter results reflecting positive traffic trends, market share gains, and adjusted margin improvement across both segments," said Dreiling.

"While we are still in the early stages of our transformation journey, I am proud of what our team accomplished in 2023 and see a long runway of growth ahead of us."

Dollar Tree reported a net loss of $1.71 billion in the fourth quarter.