Family Dollar to reopen, hiring begins next week

West Memphis distribution center is looking to hire 600 new employees, paying up to $20 an hour

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

Family Dollar and Dollar Tree are tightening their belts and closing stores across the country as part of cost-cutting measures, in West Memphis, the once struggling distribution center is being given a new opportunity. Mayor Marco McClendon, in his recent State of the City Address, revealed that there are optimistic changes on the horizon, which include the reopening of the Family Dollar Distribution Center. This announcement comes after Family Dollar was ordered to pay more than $41 million for unsanitary, rat-infested conditions at the distribution center back in 2022. The infestation led to product recalls and the closure of more than 400 stores in multiple states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Missouri, and Tennessee, for weeks.

Mayor McClendon expressed his excitement for the reopening of the facility, stating that workers will no longer have to worry about the building’s conditions. The starting pay at the distribution center is set at $20 an hour, with the aim of helping the community recover from the setback.

The grand opening of the facility is scheduled for August, with a job fair planned for April 3 at Arkansas State University Mid-South. The goal is to hire over 600 employees for the distribution

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The West Memphis distribution center will have the capacity to serve up to 1,000 Family Dollar stores in the region. Currently, there are more than 200 Family Dollar and Dollar Tree stores in Arkansas, employing over 2,300 associates. By 2026, the company plans to open dozens more Family Dollar and Dollar Tree stores in the state.

The new facility, expected to be fully operational by fall 2024, represents a $100 million investment in safety, sanitation, and compliance. The distribution center will be rebuilt from scratch, focusing on high product safety standards. All distribution centers for Family Dollar and Dollar Tree are Good Distribution Practices certified by an independent third-party auditor.

In a press release from Family Dollar Inc., Mike Kindy, Executive Vice President and Chief Supply Chain Officer of Dollar Tree, Inc., expressed his excitement for the transformation of the West Memphis facility. He stated, “This is more than a reopening, it’s a transformation. Our West Memphis facility will drive industry- leading safety standards and offer an excellent employment experience.”

Mayor Marco McClendon also shared his enthusiasm for the reopening of the distribution center, stating, “I am thrilled to see Family Dollar transform and reopen its West Memphis facility. This rebuild demonstrates the commitment Family Dollar is making here, including more jobs, best-in-class safety, and a closer connection with all of us.”

The 850,000-sq. ft. facility is currently undergoing a full interior demolition and remodel, with new features like building-wide temperature control, expanded associate amenities and most certainly new pest-control regulations.

A family dollar bulk order picker selects cases for out bound shipping at Family Dollar Distribution. The company closed its West Memphis distribution center in 2022 after a rat infestation was uncovered. The facility has been cleaned and plans are underway to reopen.

File photo