BUFFALO, N.Y. — In the Fillmore District, there’s 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 locations on Broadway Street and Clinton Street for all other essentials — from dish soap to laundry detergent.
But when a banner was put outside the two Family Dollar locations in the past week saying the stores would be closing, the writing was on the wall that these residents may have to adjust their routines in the future.
“Where are we going to shop now?" asked Bruce Goudelock, a Fillmore District resident.
In March, Family Dollar announced that it would be closing 1,000 stores nationwide due financial hardships, and in the last week, announced two of those would be in the Fillmore District.
Mitch Nowakowski, Buffalo Common Council member for the Fillmore District, said he understands his constituents' concerns, especially since walking is the only way many of them can get their everyday needs.
Without these two Family Dollar locations, they’ll be forced to go to nearby corner stores, many of which are known for price gouging.
“You can never offer a community enough products because, really, it provides them not only high quality service, high quality products, but it also breeds competition between the stores to ultimately keep prices low and to give people options and variety to shop,” Nowakowski said.
Additionally, he worries that Dollar Tree, which owns Family Dollar, could leave these two lots vacant, reversing some of the work he has spent the last few years doing in the district.
That’s why Nowakowski sent a letter to Dollar Tree demanding answers for why they chose to close these stores, when that could happen, if there is any way to keep the locations open or prevent them from becoming another empty lot in the city.
“It would really be a large monumental step back,” Nowakowski said.
He said he has not yet heard back from Dollar Tree. 2 On Your Side also contacted Dollar Tree for more information but did not hear back yet.
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