JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An Arlington Family Dollar is one of Jacksonvlle’s 48 stores closing its doors as the store’s parent company, Dollar Tree, prepares to shut down 1,000 stores nationwide.
The store in the Dames Pointe Plaza on Merrill Road has been selling merchandise at 50% off to make way for the permanent closure.
Carts were filled to the top with merchandise as shoppers took advantage of the sales, leaving the shelves bare.
Jasmine said she stocked up on pet food, baby items and snacks.
Dollar Tree plans to close about 600 Family Dollar stores in the first half of this year and 370 Family Dollar and 30 Dollar Tree stores over the next several years.
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As of right now, this is the only store closing under the slash of stores.
News4JAX news partner The Daily Record reached out to other local Family Dollars to see if they were closing and confirmed that they were not. We also contacted corporate to learn if any other stores in Jacksonville or surrounding areas are in danger of closing. We did not immediately hear back.
Some customers aren’t happy that a store they said fit into their budget is closing in their neighborhood.
Some shoppers said they would have to turn to other stores for their needs, which could be more expensive.
“With the economy the way it is, it helps me buy stuff I’m not able to get anywhere else,” John said. “It does stretch out my money but now that they’re gone it’s going to cost me more. Now, I gotta spend more money on gas to find another Family Dollar.”
John will have to drive about four minutes to another location to shop -- that’s a 22-minute walk for someone without a car.