Concerns About Affordable Options in Fillmore District After Family Dollar Closes

BUFFALO, NY — In the Fillmore District, there is a routine that many residents follow.

Residents told 2 On Your Side Thursday that they go to Tops or Aldi for groceries and rely on the Family Dollar stores on Broadway Street and Clinton Street for all other essentials – from dish soap to laundry detergent. laundry.

But when a banner was placed outside both Family Dollar stores last week announcing the stores’ closures, it was clear those residents might have to adjust their routines in the future.

“Where are we going to shop now?” asked Fillmore District resident Bruce Goudelock.

In March, Family Dollar announced it would close 1,000 stores nationwide due to financial difficulties, and last week it announced two of them would be in the Fillmore district.

RELATED: Discount Retailer Plans to Close Nearly 1,000 Stores

Mitch Nowakowski, Buffalo Common Council member for the Fillmore District, said he understands his constituents’ concerns, especially since walking is the only way for many of them to meet their daily needs. .

Without these two Family Dollar locations, they will be forced to go to nearby convenience stores, many of which are known for their price gouging.

“You can never offer enough products to a community because, in reality, it not only provides them with high quality service and products, but it also creates competition between stores to ultimately keep prices low and offer people options and a variety of products for shopping.” » said Nowakowski.

Additionally, he worries that Dollar Tree, which owns Family Dollar, could leave those two lots vacant, undoing some of the work it has done in recent years in the district.

That’s why Nowakowski sent a letter to Dollar Tree demanding answers about why they chose to close these stores, when that might happen, if there’s a way to keep the locations open or prevent them from become another empty lot in the city.

“It really would be a big, monumental step backwards,” Nowakowski said.

He said he has yet to receive a response from Dollar Tree. 2 On Your Side also reached out to Dollar Tree for more information, but has not yet received a response.