Trenton Family Dollar store closures are being blamed, at least in part, on theft (LA PARKER COLUMN)

This Family Dollar store on East State St. will close within a week. (LA Parker/The Trentonian)

Thieves closed the Family Dollar store on Chambers Street in Trenton, at least according to one employee headed for the unemployment line.

“It got so bad that people would come in and take stuff and we knew that they were stealing. But with hardly any security, they were able to just walk away. This was a great store for the community but (thieves) closed this place,” she said.

Here the assessment parallels concerns issued by Family Dollar and Dollar Tree. In August 2023, both companies took extraordinary measures to reduce theft. Dollar Tree and Family Dollar locked up some items in stores and in a more drastic reaction, removed other items from sale.

The following September, CEO Rick Dreiling told investors about plans to reduce “shrink”, the industry term for lost merchandise. Apparently, those new strategies could not reduce theft in two Trenton stores.

Location. Location. Location.

The Family Dollar on Chambers St. opened in an impoverished portion of Trenton, just a block away from Walnut Ave., an area impacted by poverty creep. Potentially beautiful brownstone buildings stand empty while up the street, one family lives next to two houses marketed for demolition.

Situated on the same side of the street as Family Dollar and just yards away, a row of houses show collapsed porches. During a reelection effort, the campaign of Mayor Reed Gusciora slapped a large dark blue sign that read — Trenton Makes Progress: Property of City of Trenton Demolition Project. The sign, equivalent to lipstick on a pig application, came down after Gusciora claimed a second term. Deterioration of both buildings and people continued.

The immediate area includes the Martinez liquor store which stays open for 12 hours daily. People languish in the street; hang out under those aforementioned falling porches, and drink alcohol throughout the day. The situation begs this question — Why would any multibillion dollar company set up shop next to poverty?

Guaranteed government monies distributed to persons enrolled in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). With these benefits determined by guidelines that connect to the poor and with an estimated 28-percent of Trenton residents living below poverty levels, national store outlets find it advantageous to set up shop in financially-challenged neighborhoods, especially since Uncle Sam pays the bills.

When profits shrink because of shrink, well, accountants can determine whether companies should exit. Their departure recreates deserts as residents who had access to food and other items
must find other shopping options.

The Chambers St. area has endured other closings that connect to poverty and theft. Walgreens shuttered in May 2023. CVS closed a store in a nearby Greenwood Ave. in December as shrink played a role in that departure.

Stores like Walmart and Target have resorted to locking items in cases to prevent shoplifting. Walmart admitted that it locks up everyday items on a store-by-store basis.

According to the National Retail Federation (NRF), the average national shrink rate rose 1.4% in 2021 and 1.6% in 2022. Financial experts expected shrink numbers near 2% for 2023.

LA Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at [email protected].