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SHELBY — Dollar Tree’s presence in Shelby is set to increase.
According to the Richland County Auditor’s website, the discount store company purchased the former Rite Aid building on the corner of Mansfield Avenue and East Main Street in Shelby for $360,000 on Oct. 22.
Shelby’s Rite Aid permanently closed its doors a few months ago — a result of the drug store chain closing 286 of its locations in Ohio, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
The building was built in 1997 and the 2023 assessed value was $846,550.
In 2015, Dollar Tree, Inc. acquired Family Dollar, according to its website.
Dollar Tree’s coming location in Shelby will be situated just 528 feet north of the city’s Family Dollar storefront at 17 Mansfield Ave.
Jessica Gribben, economic development manager for Shelby and northern Richland County, said Thursday that Dollar Tree has submitted plans for signage and a slight interior remodel for registers and storage.
As far as when Dollar Tree will begin moving into its new building, Gribben said she doesn’t have a specific date at this time.
Not expected to impact Family Dollar
Despite being close in proximity, it seems unlikely that Family Dollar will be impacted by the addition of Dollar Tree.
Gribben said Dollar Tree has been looking for property in Shelby for a long time.
“Family Dollar has remodeled I think twice even in that time frame,” she said. “I have no reason to believe that they would close with this opening. And they offer similar but different products.
“(Dollar Tree) will contribute to the area’s economic activity, creating jobs. We look forward to welcoming Dollar Tree.”
Closure of Shelby’s Rite Aid not an isolated event
According to Bloomberg, Rite Aid had about 2,100 stores nationwide when it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October 2023.
This has led to the closure of more than 520 stores across the country, including all stores in Ohio and Michigan — except for four Ohio stores; Ashland, Uhrichsville, Cambridge and Wooster.
Rite Aid first began in Shelby at 17 South Gamble St., which is now a Dollar General.
The drugstore chain bought the building on the corner of Mansfield Avenue and East Main Street in 1996 and began operating there upon completion of building its new store.
“This was a huge corporate decision happening nationally,” Gribben told Richland Source in September.
“We are fortunate in Shelby that we do have a pharmacy in town still, so we’re in a better position than some having this closure.”
Discount Drug Mart, located at 219 Mansfield Avenue in Shelby, offers pharmacy services Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It’s also open Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
