MEMPHIS, Tenn. —
Back in March, Dollar Tree announced the closure of nearly 1,000 stores, including hundreds of Family Dollar stores.
And on Friday, April 12, some of the Family Dollar stores right here in Memphis are set to close their doors for good.
Empty shelves currently fill the building as the Family Dollar store on Coleman Rd. in Raleigh prepares to close.
On Friday evening, this store and the Family Dollar on Summer Ave. near Highland St. will shut down as part of the first round of closures from parent company, Dollar Tree.
With just two full days left in business, shoppers who would usually just walk to the Family Dollar in Raleigh are left figuring out how they're going to get groceries. This worried Raleigh residents like Earnest Wells.
"That's going to push us further and further out to do shopping. It's greatly going to affect the people who don't have a way and don't have transportation to get to and from other locations,” said Wells.
There is an Exxon gas station with a convenience store right next door to the Raleigh Family Dollar, but the nearest major grocer is about a 20-minute walk.
At the store on Summer, the nearest convenience store is only a five-minute walk. But the nearest major grocer is about a 40-minute walk.
Community members like Ed Wellington said there is enough blighted property around the city. So, he hopes these stores don't sit vacant after closing.
"I hope something will replace it. Somewhere we can shop and buy things at a reasonable rate,” said Wells.
"Maybe a new person will come in and revitalize a little bit,” said Wellington.
Dollar Tree did not respond to questions on why these specific locations were chosen to be closed or if any other locations in the Mid-South will be closing soon as well.
A Family Dollar worker said employees will be transferred to other locations next week, so no one will be laid off when the stores close.