Family Dollar meets opposition in southwest Atlanta
(John Spink, jspink@ajc.com)
Several hundred protesters (photos) turned out Friday to demand that Family Dollar abandon plans to build a store in the Cascade area of southwest Atlanta.
Protesters argue that the discount general merchandise chain already has several stores in the area and that it is targeting predominantly black communities for its locations. The new store is being built at Fairburn Road and Benjamin E. Mays Drive.
Protesters say the concentration of such stores lowers nearby residential property values and attracts crime. They also say the store will be near retirement complexes, a health care center, and nearby neighborhoods.
“We are not anti-business,” Audraine Jackson, an area resident and owner of Jackson Communication, told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution during the protest Friday near the construction site for the new store. “The issue here is the aggressive marketing tactics of Family Dollar that disproportionately targets the African-American community. For us to have four stores in this ZIP code alone is totally unacceptable.”
Family Dollar, however, defends opening the new location and vows to “work diligently” to make the store “a positive addition” to the community, spokesman Bryn Winburn said in a statement.
“Family Dollar is proud to be a neighborhood store and we continuously strive to be a positive part of the neighborhoods we serve. We look forward to working with this community to create a store we can all be proud of,” Byrn said. The spokesperson also noted that the chain, which plans to open up to 500 stores this fiscal year, donates thousands of dollars to nonprofits that seek to improve the quality of life of customers and employees.
Earlier this month, more than 200 residents attended an Aug. 14 community meeting at the Adamsville Recreation Center to oppose the new store.
“Somebody might argue and say, ‘Well, this is economic development,’ ” said Atlanta City Councilman Michael Bond. “This is not the type of economic development that we want.” Councilman C.T. Martin noted there were three Family Dollar stores on Martin Luther King Jr. Drive.
(Commenting closed)
(Staff photographer John Spink contributed to this blog)
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133 comments Add your comment
Redcoat
August 24th, 2012
3:10 pm
Mrs. Jackson……Someone is buying FD products in your neighborhood, if it’s not you or your neighbors, are you saying folks outside your neighborhood are commuting in to buy from FD? and you don’t like it?…..is that right?
Angry AJC Subscriber
August 24th, 2012
3:10 pm
Chris Seward, I would like to request that you remove all comments from this article as it takes away from the true essence of the why this protest took place. I am a resident of the city of Atlanta and I own several homes INSIDE THE CITY OF ATLANTA in several different communities.
I do not encounter these racist online comments in my day to day life, so it’s one of two things. These “people,” and I say that vaguely, probably live outside the metropolitan Atlanta area and aren’t necessarily relevant in overall scope of the success of Atlanta. OR this is some childish rant by a fearful, immature, adolescent person vowing for attention. One way or another, this article does not need comments.
Due Diligence
August 24th, 2012
3:10 pm
Family Dollar…all those stores seem the same to me!
Lola
August 24th, 2012
3:11 pm
@ WENdy, Wendy, WEndy shame on you.
“Well get off government assistance, raise your children to not be hood rats and move out of the ghetto, then you wont have to worry about it.”
Are you serious??? Do you have any idea where Cascade is located?? Unknowledgable
Kwame Cascade
August 24th, 2012
3:13 pm
With Powell, Rice, Obama, etc white America says, “Racism’s Dead”. Well, I know it’s not true from my own experiences. And the comments on this post support why I must teach my 3 and 1 year old beautiful Black princesses, that there are people in this world, in this state, in this city, that will judge them “not for the character of their heart”, but by the color of their skin. And it saddens me to have to do so.
atlnative
August 24th, 2012
3:15 pm
To Mrs. Jackson: Would you prefer a Whole Foods Supermarket than a Family Dollar store? The Cascade Area is a home foreclosure minefield!
Really ?
August 24th, 2012
3:16 pm
Family Dollar just opened a new store in the upscale Oakhurst neighborhood of Decatur right next to a church. The problem isn’t Family Dollar it’s the people who live in the neighborhood.
Always blaming your problems on others rather than looking for solutions to your crime, drugs dependence, lack of education and staggering illegitimate birth rate means nothing will ever change for you.
atlnative
August 24th, 2012
3:17 pm
Mrs. Jackson, why are you so emotional about this issue?
SW ATL resident
August 24th, 2012
3:17 pm
As a resident of SW Atlanta (FYI – I live in a subdivison less than 5 min. from the proposed location), I’m agaisnt the opening of this Family Dollar in particular because it’s on a street that’s not suitable for the amount of traffic that the store may bring. It’s in a mostly residential neighborhood, on a small two lane road right next to a rail road crossing – hence, there will probably cars backed-up blocking the entrance to my subdivision. Also, Family Dollar has a history of constucting ugly buildings that don’t fit the architecture of the surronding area. I can’t tell yet how this store will look, but based on the company’s history, I’m not getting my hopes up. Lastly, the chain has been known to abandon said ugly buildings fairly quickly if the store is under performing. Given the backlash this store is facing already – I wouldn’t be surprised if this store under-performed expectations and was left empty within 6-12 months. Who wants an ugly empy building sitting down the street from their home? These are just a few of the reasons, I and several of my neighbors are opposed to this location. And to all the negative commenters – Do you really think your AJC comments make me feel bad about my neighborhood? What are you trying to accomplish? There are reasons I live where I live….and I wouldn’t deny that one of those reasons is to avoid living next to people that have opinions and views similar to yours.
Georgian with a brain
August 24th, 2012
3:18 pm
I am always stunned by the overt racism of the commenters here. Remind me, please: whom did Jesus hate?
papa rider
August 24th, 2012
3:19 pm
I would welcome the opportunity to save money no matter what color I was. I’m white and have several in my area. I’m not to proud to save a dollar.
ATLParent
August 24th, 2012
3:20 pm
While Councilman Bond is complaining about Family Dollar, why isn’t he and all those that complained the loudest at the meeting doing something about the store across the street. It attracts more illegal activity than any of the Family Dollars withing the 30331 zone.
Mischa
August 24th, 2012
3:20 pm
Have any of you protestors ever thought of how many jobs these Family Dollars create? Even in just the construction alone? My boyfriend’s father owns the concrete company that has laid the foundation for at least 10 Family Dollars in the past several months. Family Dollar has kept them very busy and thankfully unaffected during these rough economic times.
They told me they saw protesters across the street this morning and they just laughed about the whole thing, thought it was so stupid. Why are you protesting them? Working men who have and want nothing to do with the situation… They’re just trying to make money so they can support their families.
Happy AJC Subcriber
August 24th, 2012
3:20 pm
Chris Seward, I would like to request that you keep all comments from this article as it adds to the true essence of the why this protest took place – because people of that community are illogical and will play the race card either way. If they can’t get jobs – RACISM! If jobs come to the city – RACISM! I am a resident of the city of Atlanta and I own several homes INSIDE THE CITY OF ATLANTA in several different communities.
I do not encounter these “protesters” in my day to day life, so it’s one of two things. These “people,” and I say that vaguely because if I used the actual word I’d be banned, probably live outside the metropolitan Atlanta area and aren’t necessarily relevant in overall scope of the success of Atlanta. OR the protesters are childish, fearful, immature, adolescent and vowing they’re a victim of racism. One way or another, this article needs comments.
BW
August 24th, 2012
3:20 pm
Wow….where’s the moderator with some of these guys?
Darwin
August 24th, 2012
3:21 pm
Oh well. We got a bunch of Dollar General stores up here in North Forsyth near Hall County. So, it’s a red neck thing too.
Redcoat
August 24th, 2012
3:23 pm
Angry…….I’m embarrassed of some of these comments too, but no comments is even more wrong. I am very surprised that a business such as FD is considered drawing in a criminal element. In my area there are several dollar stores and I buy products from them because I find I save money on name brand products they sell. Yes , I may “rub elbows” with some of their other customers of all races that may not be as fortunate as myself, but I never felt that “criminals” were all about me. So I feel there is more to this story that’s not being reported.
BW
August 24th, 2012
3:24 pm
No Inhabitant…just be thankful you have a computer to spew vitroil you’re too chicken-**** to say to someone’s face…gotta love the Internets and America
SW ATL resident
August 24th, 2012
3:25 pm
ATTENTION ATTENTION: Family Dollar is not Dollar General.
Wayne stuck in AL
August 24th, 2012
3:28 pm
Yeah…these people are holding out for an IKEA or a Neiman Marcus.
Mike
August 24th, 2012
3:28 pm
Racism people are ruining this country….not Obama
SW ATL resident
August 24th, 2012
3:31 pm
Why are you all focusing so much on the crime complaints? Readers of the article (and my previous comment) should see that crime is not the only reason neighborhood residents are agaisnt this Family Dollar location. There is a location under construction actually on Cascade Rd (this one is not) that is not garnering the same complaints because in a more commercial area, with a strong retail presence. It’s not really about crime.
Mrs. Jackson
August 24th, 2012
3:31 pm
@atlnative – I am emotional because my husband and I are raising three “black” kids in this area and it breaks my heart that they will one day have to encounter the RACISM that is shown here!!!!We teach our kids to love no matter the race but the truth of the matter is they will be judged purely on the colour of their skin!!! We are two educated professionals raising kids the best way we know how and the thought of someone “labeling” them “hoodrats” BREAKS MY HEART!!!!!!!! So I will be sure to show them this blog so that they are aware of the RACISM they will one day face!! Sad…very very sad!!
Snozz
August 24th, 2012
3:31 pm
““The issue here is the aggressive marketing tactics of Family Dollar that disproportionately targets the African-American community.”
Wait, what? Aren’t complaints like this normally about how a business *won’t* market to/support a community? And we’re not talking about a strip club or liquor store here…
jay
August 24th, 2012
3:32 pm
The problem is not race. Simply to many FD in one area. IF we had a whole foods, I woulnt have to drive to vinnings area to shop!!!
Darwin
August 24th, 2012
3:32 pm
I know Family Dollar is not Dollar General. But isn’t it kind of the same concept? That was my point.
John
August 24th, 2012
3:34 pm
There are at least five Dollar Generals and two Family Dollar stores in my zip code and I live in a predominately white upper middle class community. I don’t think this shows anything other than the fact that a store wants to do business i this community.
Ro Mance
August 24th, 2012
3:37 pm
You should be complaining to the city about all the boarded up, delapidated buildings in our neighborhoods. We need good, clean stores of any kind in our community. Our people need jobs.
Lorraine
August 24th, 2012
3:38 pm
‘robert’, there’s a new Family Dollar in the City of Decatur. The community consists of people who have a high income and are highly educated. Get your facts straight before you place false and incorrect information.
Tag
August 24th, 2012
3:38 pm
Why not a Neiman Marcus, Saks 5th Ave or expensive antique stores?
Jazzy
August 24th, 2012
3:38 pm
@Inhabitant you need a realtity check. Cascasde is not a bad neighboorhood. Just people like make it look bad. Yes, there are better schools, and a lot well know people live there. And still do. I bet you you live in the neighborhood. Do you work everyday. so, before you start dogging a neighborhood get your facts straight. apprently your facts are all wrong.
Redcoat
August 24th, 2012
3:39 pm
SW ATL……Then why say “crime” “racial”?……need to get to the point…….if it’s just property values….then say it! You need to talk to those who zone your area and get that changed….don’t you think? Is there another issue?…….feeling I get is there is more to this.
What should they build instead?
August 24th, 2012
3:39 pm
A Nike Store so the drug dealers and teenagers (selling drugs as well and/or stealing) can pick up a $150 pair of sneakers every three weeks? This one rates way up the stupid scale. If you don’t like it, don’t shop there. The company isn’t putting one there as a charity, they’ve probably done some research and figured out they can make money with another location in the area. Novel idea, making money……are they discriminatory (do they charge more than $1 at this store)?
Try Again FD
August 24th, 2012
3:40 pm
communities oppose business all the time for whatever reason they decide. Unfortunately, cascade has 3 stores already which says that says are great but it also says to me that there are not enough of other kinds of stores. While I appreciate FD for trying, why would anyone want a 400k house within minutes of mulitple family Dollar stores. Lets be practicial here. they aren’t opposing restuarants which don’t open below i20.
LAC
August 24th, 2012
3:40 pm
Really that is there main concern for you folks… No Family Dollar. I live in East Cobb there are two Dollar store in one shopping center. I do use Family Dollar because of the Cheaper prices on Tide and Cleaning products and dog food. Home Prices haven’t been lowered… I think you should worry more about your education system than Family Dollar.
barry
August 24th, 2012
3:40 pm
@Robert…….looks like your the one who needs to learn English…it’s “waist” not “waste.”
Rob
August 24th, 2012
3:41 pm
Well, there you go, Obama doesnt want people to work, so this is the prime example, If you didtnt build it, they wont work!
AltN8tivITP
August 24th, 2012
3:46 pm
There is nothing inherently wrong with dollar stores like FD, DG and DT. I have shopped all three in various parts of town and in my experience the quality of the store tends to mirror the neighborhood it’s in. Stores in dirty, trashy areas tend to be trashy and dirty. Stores in clean, well-kept areas tend to be clean and well-kept. For the record, I fall into the single, white, mid-aged, mid-class, female demographic. I also happen to live in a pre-dominantly black neighborhood; the FD and DG stores here are fine and the employees greet me with a friendly welcome when I shop there.
ATLParent
August 24th, 2012
3:48 pm
The issue here is crime not Family Dollar. I had to travel along that corridor this morning during your protest. Now, I invite all of you back this evening after 7. Watch the ’slick’ transactions, the foul mouth teens and adults with children in tow, and lack of police presence. Family Dollar will not be the eyesore or problem, it is already there. And, next door and behind this store is a senior citizens home. SW residents don’t want anything that can boost the economy, you shot down WalMart.
Sit down with FD and have them guarantee jobs for the community first. Ask them to train some of the people, including teens from Mays, to become responsible citizens.
double standard?
August 24th, 2012
3:49 pm
So which is worse, retailers targeting black communities or avoiding them? RME
Bluto
August 24th, 2012
3:50 pm
SW ATL resident I was pretty disappointed from both sides of the argument until I read your post. It was just a bunch of name calling and stereotyping from both sides. Thank you for informing someone who does not live in this area or shops at Family Dollar why the community is protesting the store.
Profitability
August 24th, 2012
3:50 pm
The community does get to decide what kind of businesses continue to operate within it. Store sales are the ultimate indicator for public acceptance. If the community does not value the business, the sales will show it. If the residents continue to shop at the store, sales will show that as well. Time will tell.
atlnative
August 24th, 2012
3:51 pm
@Mrs. Jackson: The first place your kids will learn racism is right there in their own home! The average person doesn’t care about your education,or your kids’ education. When you are approached by people on the street,your ethnicity is clearly visible.Most quality people judge you by your character more than anything else.It doesn’t matter where you live,your educational resume,the car you drive,or where you’re seen buying clothes!
Inhabitant
August 24th, 2012
3:52 pm
All. Please accept my apology. Sincerely. Have a nice day.
Redcoat
August 24th, 2012
3:53 pm
Please, someone dig deep and come up with a real reason FD is such an issue in this neighborhood…….has to be something else involved here. Hard to buy all these “protest issues”.
MR164
August 24th, 2012
3:55 pm
WOW. Hot stove Hot stove. Everyone grow up. This is America. If you want to protest..protest. If you don’t….then don’t. Why all the negativity? I grew up off of cascade in a neighborhood built by the same builder that built your house, John Wieland ($200k – 1M) and that was in the early 90’s. I went to Mays HS and then Morehouse and GT. What’s my point? Don’t paint everyone the same color because of their race (Pun intended). As a guy that has experiences with both races everyday, I can tell you that all races do dumb things. The funny part is that I will see all of you black and white raciest “high five(ing)” at the Falcons game Sept 17th
This was all typed on a smartphone so dont kill me too much for my type-os
SW ATL resident
August 24th, 2012
3:57 pm
ATLParent – Do you think the Family Dollar will add more value to the community than the gas station? As someone that lives down the street, I’m not pleased with the business practices of that gas station, so I don’t shop there and I won’t shop at the Family Dollar either. From your comments it seems you believe that the Family Dollar will be a better addition to the neighborhood. I’d guess it’d be more of the same…but I’m interested to hear your reasoning. Also, do you really think the kids from Mays need training from Family Dollar? As a graduate of the school, I don’t think so. The students should be presented with role models and opportunities that show them they should work for and expect more out of live than minimum wage retail jobs. I think they’d do better recieving training from some one like Mrs. Jackson that was interviewed for this article.
atlnative
August 24th, 2012
3:59 pm
@Inhabitant: It sounds like you need a hug! Get rid of those toxic people in your life!
Spring-Fresh
August 24th, 2012
4:00 pm
I think the residents don’t particularly have a problem with the Family Dollar Store but where it is cited to be built. I moved into the area in 2000 and there was nothing there but homes and Southwest Hospital, Mays High School, Jean Child Young Middle School and some of the apartments on Fairburn Road. Since that time it has seen its share of growth (condos, apartments, stores/plaza on the main street which is Fairburn Road). The site of the Family Dollar is pretty much going to be on Benjamin E. Mays Drive I believe that putting a store of any kind whether Bloomingdale’s, Macy’s, Walmart or Family Dollar would not be a good thing that close to a residential district.
Lord help us all
August 24th, 2012
4:07 pm
Sitting reading these comment really brought chill through my spine, I am so disappointed in both side of the argument, This blog will really open your eyes up to the way people really feel about one another. Racism does still exist and will only continue until we as a whole find a way to love and treat each other with respect. THIS IS SO SAD GOD LOVES ALL HIS CHILDREN NO MATTER THE SHAPE, SIZE OR COLOR.