Family Dollar Opens its Doors in Oakhurst

Family Dollar opened its doors in the Oakhurst neighborhood on Thursday. By Friday afternoon, a steady stream of customers and curious area residents were checking out the store.

Marty Maddox accompanied his mother, Peggy, on a shopping trip to the new store. They have lived in the area, on the border between Oakhurst and Kirkwood for 50 years, and he said they were both happy to see it open.

"They needed this for this community," he said. "It's been a long time coming."

Many in the neighborhood voiced objections about the store, arguing that it wasn't the right fit for the gentrifying area.

The Decatur store will operate out of the shopping center where the Big H store operated until it closed nearly 10 years ago.

now occupies the middle section of the strip shopping center near the corner of East Lake Drive and Oakview Road. The other end of the building, where used to be, is empty.