Family Dollar opens in New Ulm

By KURT NESBITT

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Family Dollar has joined Sears in the old Pamida store on South Broadway.

The store, located at 1605 S. Broadway Street, is the 28th Family Dollar store in Minnesota and the 4,236th in the Charlotte, N.C.-based chain.

New Ulm Family Dollar opened its doors to the public with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday.

"We're not a huge company, and there are no high-price items," said store manager Jason Steele. "But we're not a dollar store."

Like its cross-town competitors Target and Kmart, Family Dollar offers discount prices on health and beauty aids, household cleaners and cleansers, paper products, small electronics, school supplies, candy, snack foods, toys, hardware and auto supplies, among others.

Family Dollar also helps fill the old Pamida building. The 27,000-square-foot building was purchased this summer by five New Ulm business people who had plans for a strip mall. The remodeled building now includes three 9,000-square foot retail businesses.

New Ulm Chamber of Commerce President Jeanne Albrecht said the store's opening was a positive sign.

"All new retail stores have been a plus for the community," said Albrecht. "It's an economic boom."