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Deals opened last week at 330 Connecticut Ave. in the plaza with Best Buy.
It is located at the former site of the Rag Shop. The Norwalk location is Deals'
first entry into the state.
"We have brand names and private names," said spokesperson Shelly Davis. "We are
able to purchase the right quantities of the right merchandise in order to sell
at the right price. We're happy to be in Norwalk and look forward to meeting our
customers."
The opening of the discount store, however, is not sitting well with everybody.
Jay Maru is the owner of Dollar Mania, a smaller discount "dollar store," in the
same plaza.
"I'll be killed," Maru said. "But they did it. I can't help it. There is no
clause in my lease that another dollar store can't open here. I'm just trying to
get sales and different items [to compete]."
At the Norwalk Deals store, 80 percent of the merchandise is priced at $1, with
the remaining 20 percent priced between $1 and $5.
Deals, which has a strong presence in the Midwest and Southeast, was purchased
in early 2006 by Dollar Tree Stores. All of the Deals stores -- more than 140 --
retained their name. Dollar Tree operates more than 3,000 stores in 48 states.
Davis said Dollar Tree was attracted to the location because the plaza has solid
anchor tenants such as Best Buy and T.J. Maxx.
"We're an alternative to the big box stores," she said. "We're clean, well-lit
and easy to get in and out of. It's a quick shopping experience."
Unless, of course, a customer decides to carefully inspect the aisles looking
for bargains.
Deals offers a staggering variety of products, including Christmas decorations
and wrapping paper, toys, kitchen products, cleaners, hardware items, soft
goods, books and food.
"We have not only consumables, but also discretionary items," Rich Girardo,
marketing coordinator for Dollar Tree, said. "We're really targeting anyone who
wants a value. Everyone is watching their money, especially in this economy. We
offer some deep discounts."
Girardo added that Deals is a good place for families to stock up on items such
as napkins, toilet paper and cleaning products.
Deals is open Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Sunday from 10
a.m. to 7 p.m
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