New store opens along North Gallatin Avenue
Residents say a new Family Dollar store that recently opened along North Gallatin Avenue in Uniontown is a nice addition to the neighborhood. “We need something nice on Gallatin Avenue,” said Ron Johnson, who lives nearby off of Whyle Avenue, as he was shopping Friday. “It helps out the neighborhood.”
The store opened Aug. 27 in the building that used to house V&G Foodland, which closed three years ago. A grand opening was held Thursday.
Manager Ray Murphy said many customers he’s talked to learned that the store opened from word of mouth, while others have said they didn’t know about it until they drove by.
Either way, residents living in the area seem glad to have the store in the neighborhood, he said.
“We have our regulars that come in everyday,” Murphy said. “Many people walk.”
“It’s easy to get to, easy to walk to,” said Tina Riggar of Cleveland Avenue who was shopping with her baby son. “It’s convenient for everybody. It’s huge.”
Murphy, who said he has worked for Family Dollar in the Pittsburgh area for six years, said the store has 8,000 square feet of space inside. Most of the other 7,000 Family Dollar stores in the country are 6,500 square feet, he said.
The store sells clothes, household items and has more food than most of the other stores, Murphy said.
Business hours are Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Though the store has a full compliment of six employees, it will have a computer kiosk that people can use to apply for jobs at any Family Dollar store, Murphy said. The unit is in place, but has not yet been activated.
He said job applications can also be filled out and submitted through the chain’s Web site at www.familydollar.com
“So far I like it,” said Florence Keifer of Uniontown on her first visit to the store. “I hope it stays.”
“It’s good for necessities and it’s good for the neighborhood,” said Janet Bill, president of the Gallatin Avenue Concerned Citizens, which is working with the city to develop a revitalization plan for that neighborhood.
She said she used to work at the Foodland and believes that the neighborhood needs a new grocery store, but considers the Family Dollar a good step toward improving the area.
“It shows someone else other than the residents have faith in the neighborhood,” Bill said.