Community protests beer sales at Family Dollar

ATLANTA — Several metro Atlanta communities are fired up -- again. They've been fighting against what they call an oversaturation of Family Dollar stores in their neighborhoods. Now, the chain has announced it's going to start selling beer and wine.
 
Kathy Crawford has lived in the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive area for more than a decade. There's a Family Dollar store right around the corner.
 
"They don't care anything about the community and that hasn't changed," she told Channel 2's Erin Coleman.
 
Now, the discount retailer is looking to add beer and wine sales – something many say sends the wrong message.
 
"We've got enough liquor stores on each corner. They ought to try to find something else to sell other than alcohol," Crawford said.
 
In 2012, the same neighborhood protested plans for a new store at Fairburn Road and May Drive. They won that fight, but still say the area is oversaturated with dollar stores.
 
"I know that they're not in Buckhead. I know that that they are south, for the most part south of I-20. That's where most of their stores are and that disturbs me," she said.
 
In the Martin Luther King Jr. Drive area, there's a Family Dollar and Dollar General just across the street and then about two miles down the road, another Family Dollar.
 
"They have much more respect for Peachtree than they do to MLK (Jr. Drive)," Crawford said.
 
Atlanta councilman C.T. Martin has been fighting the chain for years, and vows the fight will continue, now against alcohol.
 
"Here they go again. The most insulting corporation in America to the black community," Crawford said.
 
Family Dollar emailed Coleman a statement saying in part:
 
"This decision was made after hearing from our customers that these are items they would like to see in our stores, and additionally, the majority of Family Dollar's competitors currently offer beer and wine."
 
It goes on to state:
 
"Family Dollar has proudly operated stores in the Atlanta region for many years. Please know that Family Dollar strives to serve all customers, regardless of a demographic."

WSBTV