Family Dollar will close another store, following a year marked by branch closures. Families in the McDonough County town are about to lose their local discount store, as the Bushnell Family Dollar branch is preparing to close, as officially announced. As announced a few months ago, the retail chain Dollar Tree is maintaining its policy of mass closures for its Family Dollar subsidiary by 2025, after having acquired the brand nearly a decade ago for more than $8 billion.
The company had already closed 600 stores in 2023 and another 1,000 in 2024
According to The Washington Post, Family Dollar operated approximately 7,600 stores across the United States until February 1, 2025. Now, a large, bright yellow sign has been placed at the entrance, clearly indicating the closure of the business. The company had already closed 600 stores in 2023 and another 1,000 in 2024, making it one of the largest operational cutbacks in recent American retail history. In this particular case, it has been reported that the store will remain open until the end of January. However, there is currently no information on what will happen to the building once Family Dollar closes completely.
For now, it is known that the store will remain open during its usual hours of 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., seven days a week. The main reason behind these closures is the poor performance of certain Family Dollar locations, coupled with the expiration of numerous leases, which facilitates exiting less profitable markets without incurring greater penalties. This has led to the closure of other large retailers, which have had to close their stores due to the expiration of their leases.
“With the sale of Family Dollar expected by the end of this year, we will be able to focus on long-term growth”
Just a few weeks ago, another Family Dollar, this one in Old Orchard Beach, Maine, closed its doors after a difficult year for the chain. “With the sale of Family Dollar expected by the end of this year, we will be able to focus on long-term growth, profitability, and return on invested capital at Dollar Tree,” Dollar Tree CEO Mike Creedon told The Street. Upon hearing the news of the closure, shoppers rushed to take advantage of the sales, with discounts of up to 90% before the store finally closed its doors for good. Before closing, the Maine store posted signs in its aisles that read: “Store Closing, Final Sale.”
Dollar Tree is confident that by focusing on its most profitable stores, it will offer a more efficient experience in the long run
Some residents were surprised to see the sign and commented on social media: “The cashier said there was a 30% discount on everything until Monday, and then 50% the following week. The following Monday there would be an 80-90% discount until everything was gone. A truck is arriving this Thursday, which will be the last delivery.” The company is looking to optimize its store portfolio before completing the sale of Family Dollar. More than 600 stores have already closed in 2024, and another 370 are projected to close due to expiring leases. One customer summed up the disheartening mood in a single line: “You know times are tough when the dollar store has to close.” The sudden closure has indeed surprised local residents.
Family Dollar, once considered a bargain hunter’s paradise, has been rapidly declining, as its numbers demonstrate. The closure of so many stores could affect thousands of communities, especially in rural or low-income areas where Family Dollar has been one of the few affordable shopping options. However, Dollar Tree is confident that by focusing on its most profitable stores, it will offer a more efficient and sustainable experience in the long run. “El Comercio Newspaper. All rights reserved.” The chain has spent the last two years grappling with falling profits, aging stores, and rising costs, until it has reached a point of no return. At least for now.