Family Dollar Forecasts Store Closings

Local Family Dollar stores could be at risk, following an announcement by management of the struggling chain yesterday. 390 stores across the nation will be closed this year. An additional 200 will be re-branded as Dollar Tree stores. Others will have one-dollar “Dollar Tree” sections added. Dollar Tree bought the Family Dollar chain several years ago, and says it will write off a 2.7-billion dollar loss for last year’s operations. Family Dollar operates stores in Hancock, Calumet and L’Anse. The company has not released a list of locations that will be closed or converted. In a related story, Dollar Tree, which has traditionally sold items that cost only a dollar or less, may consider selling higher-priced items.