Christie sends in this pic of a cardboard sign in the window of the old Big H Center in Oakhurst that says “Echelberger Construction, 630 East Lake Dr, Family Dollar” next to a City of Decatur permit. She also reported construction activity at the site today.
Latest from Decaturish
macarolina
Kevin
Sara
AED
spreak
smith
Decatur Metro
Curious
Deanne
Deanne
Deanne
Decaturite Mom
CH
macarolina
KMT
Incoming OMG WHY CAN’T WE HAVE A TRADER JOE’S comments in 3…2…1…
pfft, I want a Dean & Deluca!
Dean & Deluca!
Dean & Deluca!
Dean & Deluca!
Dean & Deluca!
with a caviar bar!
Caviar bar!
Caviar bar!
Caviar bar!
Caviar bar!
perfect.
I’m not going to pretend that Family Dollar would be at the very top of my list out of all the possible tenants in the universe, but honestly, I’m seriously glad that there will finally be SOMETHING there. The whole vacant storefront thing is not cute.
+1
How about a Bass Pro Shop?
With a caviar bar!
Think the Sturgeon Pro Shops have a TM on “Caviar Bar.” All others limited to variations on fish eggs and piscine roe.
Sushi, bait & tackle …
Family Dollar is actually a great fit in the neighborhood and 100% better than a vacant building.
You must not be new to the neighborhood
+1
Been around since it was actually the Big H. Long enough to know that the landlord wants a tenant but won’t WORK to get one. Therefore I’ll enjoy shopping at Family Dollar
Great comment
But I had my heart set on a Dollar General!!
But I had my heart set on a Dollar General!!
See, pretty wife didn’t lie.
Please tell me that the cardboard sign is an April Fool’s Day joke that they forgot to take down…
On behalf of everyone who a) has been strong-armed into increased penny-pinching by the Great Recession (or otherwise); and/or b) likes being able to buy basic staples in one’s own neighborhood, I say: C’mon!
Happy they wont be charging to park in that lot.
Could be a Dollar.
That was funny!
I knew I liked you! Have we ever met?
Don’t be so sure.
They already do charge on certain evenings.
In the words of Ron Burgundy, “Stay Classy, Oakhurst.”
Good for the Big “H” Overall I think that this is good for everyone not exactly what the masses want but something to bring activity and possible other tenants to that building. Goods and services, people and additional activity to a nice area of Decatur. The types of products they carry will also not directly compete with most of the shops and it will provide additional “night time” street traffic adding to the existing safe environment. This site has had so much press it is almost funny. Always interesting when a neighborhood feels it has the right to comment on private property (but that is not a comment to feed a fire just an opinion)
Actually, it probably is exactly what the masses want and that’s why it’s going to happen. I’m guessing Family Dollar did their homework and if it’s what the minority wanted, they would go elsewhere.
My guess is that Hop and Shop has the most to fear competition-wise since FD carries about 2000 skus of food according to their website.
GGD to the rescue!
Great news. I for one was sick and tired of the icky feeling I got everytime I frequented any of the existing Oakhurst businesses, all of which are locally owned. Now there is an option for those of us who would prefer that our spending supports global capital markets.
PS – FDO stock up 1.6% today, probably due to the exciting Big H news.
Corporations are people too, man.
With luck they will paint over the, uh, art that adorns the building.
Family Dollar will be a good addition for the neighborhood. Neither Hop’n’Shop nor Oakhurst Market are really filling the needs of the local neighborhood. One is a run-down, sad-looking convenience store and the other is a cutesy overpriced “market” that doesn’t actually carry anything useful at reasonable price points.
the other is a cutesy overpriced “market” that doesn’t actually carry anything useful at reasonable price points.
Some people say that about Decatur.
I like the Oakhurst Market. It reminds me of small markets in Manhattan. You wouldn’t do your bulk shopping there but they might have a few items you really want right away. The meat is high quality compared to what I buy at the grocery stores–no hiding of brown areas under pink areas of the package, lasts a long time. Baguettes are really fresh. Deli items have been good. Sells King of Pop items. There’s been several busy evenings when I was carpooling back and forth across town and able to bop into the Oakhurst Market at the last minute and find what I needed for a dinner in 20 minutes. Ditto for Sawicki’s in Downtown Decatur. High prices can be worth it if I can count on a quick, fairly quality dinner in just a few minutes. Sometimes I can’t risk that what’s in my refrig may have spoiled since I last saw it and don’t have to time to park and shop at a supermarket or thaw something from the freezer.
It’s not a market that meets all needs of everyone all the time but a niche market.
Noooooooooooooooooo! Say it ain’t so!
If you don’t like Family Dollar or any corporate store, then don’t shop there. Almost everyone on this board has transportation and resources, so your choices are greater. I don’t understand what all the fuss is about.
Classism.
I often find that is the subtext in the conversations on this board.
jbgotcha: I, Warren Buffett, agree with you.
Of course there is an element of classism. It’s why people want Trader Joe’s but not Wal-Mart.
But that same dynamic could also be described as the consumer response to corporate branding. National and global companies are built on a common perception of their brands, and sometimes these brands carry some unintended baggage. And that’s what usually brings out the catcalls when these companies come into communities – especially communities like ours, that are relatively low on corporate chains.
Me personally, I accept that we live in a world where corporate chains are pervasive and unavoidable. I still prefer locally owned operations, as they do a little bit more for a community on balance. I’m convinced that the Brickstore, Little Shop, U Joint owners et al provide something to Decatur above and beyond actual goods and services that CVS and Ruby Tuesday’s never will – I’m a little disappointed that we’re getting a corporate chain, rather than a Little Five Points Pharmacy or a Candler Park Market, but there’s nothing I really can or should do about it.
I don’t like corporate behemoths myself; I just find that there’s a preference by some in our burg for more upmarket, independent stores that are more pricey. As someone who has less than the median income of Decatur residents according to the U.S. Census, it just irks me that there are those who get their panties in a wad over the type of store that’s moving in — and I believe that there’s this concern for nothing but property values, of which people believe that a store like Family Dollar would lower. Really? I’d like to see some evidence in an actual study that this would be the case. If someone could point me to one, I’d be happy to entertain the other side. And even then, you could get into arguments about the ups and downs of gentrification that come forth in sociology classes.
If someone could open a locally-owned place that sold the same type of sundries at reasonable prices that everyone could afford, that would be ideal. Then again, price points are another issue with corporate giants muscle-ing down prices to where local businesses can’t compete.
I love this little burg that I moved into. It’s convenient to everywhere and I love its most of its spirit. But sometimes the attitudes of some people here just irk me.
And personally, Trader Joe’s is overrated IMHO.
Agree with all this: Family Dollar fills a genuine need for many residents, and while it wouldn’t be my first choice as a tenant, I’ll be happy to be able to pick up everyday items (food too, right?) right around the corner.
Regarding property values, it’s probably better for Oakhurst to have a tenant like Family Dollar in there than a long-running gigantic empty space.
Good points TeeRuss. Regarding locally-owned stores that sell essential items, in almost every case I’ve looked at, there’s an extenuating circumstance that makes it possible. Like with Candler Park Market, I believe the owners own the building outright, which obviously lowers expenses.
I just don’t think most people realize how freakin’ hard it is to make any profit on everyday essential items. I know I didn’t until I started looking into the whole co-op idea. Then reality came crashing down.
+1
I love it when people complain in the comments section about how others are complaining in the comments section.
In the future, when this particular topic area comes up, let’s all agree that those commenting against corporate chains probably do not plan on shopping at those stores. Assuming otherwise, in order to chastise them for it, is kind of silly.
“I love it when people complain in the comments section about how others are complaining in the comments section.”: Touché!
Is ok for me to be fine with Family Dollar but also like Oakhurst Market? In fact, it will be handy for me to be able to park at one and shop at both since they are almost in the same shopping center.
“it will be handy for me to be able to park at one and shop at both since they are almost in the same shopping center”
********************************************
True. Unless FD is like the CVS in Emory Village, in which case they will boot you the second you step foot off their property to grab a damned sandwich next door!
Maybe the Mayor will announce that he is de-annexing the property.
Hard for me to really grasp the large enough need for this store in Oakhurst? Someone whose job it is to research and make those decisions for FD obviously thinks so, but I wonder what there radius is to make that determination. It certainly isn’t solely based on the Oakhurst demo that would frequent the place…I was really hoping to win that big lottery for one of the things I would of done is buy that property from Bruce and put a bulldozer to it and develop it in a way that benefited all residents and made sense (at least to me)
Well, tell us. We’re all waiting anxiously for your plan.
I’m sure you are…irrelevant at this point
Everyone uses shampoo, detergent, handsoap, etc… Some of the brands are the same as CVS/Walgreens carries, so if someone shops there, they could probably find this useful for those type of things.
Refresher course:
http://www.decaturmetro.com/2010/08/27/dollar-general-coming-to-oakhurst/
It really seems like some soul searching has taken place, not only in Oakhurst, but communitywide since the DG possibility came up. With both the Walmart and the Family Dollar announcements, there’s a real sense that many folks have looked deep within to expand their acceptance beyond their own personal preferences, knowing that these retailers will be very welcomed by neighbors who may not have the same options or income (or who simply like shopping there– that one doesn’t seem to carry any weight, but oh well…).
Family Dollar has been a super handy shopping option at Suburban Plaza, and I’ll miss it being so close by. (Will travel for knock-off Thin Mints and a few other FD faves.) Often, there’s been senior shoppers in line with full carts, and it’s been gratifying to see that they were able to take care of many of their shopping needs. My hope is that the hardworking manager– a Decatur mom with two kids in CSD– will be the one saying Hi and running the Oakhurst store on Opening Day.
Is anyone here actually shopping solely locally? That seems like an almost impossibility. And if they are, how much extra time and effort does it require? I think many who complain about Walmart and dollar stores because they aren’t “local” are probably still shopping at Target, Ikea and Trader Joes. I know because I made that very mistake for a good long while before I was schooled a few times on DM and I read the book “Cheap”. As someone said – TeeRuss probably – it’s all about people’s reaction to image more than anything else.
I want an ice skating rink there. start a local hockey team for boys and girls.