Bottom Dollar stores purchased; will close in 2015

YOUNGSTOWN — More than 100 employees of the Mahoning Valley Bottom Dollar stores will be impacted by the closing of the four local food discount stores.

Bottom Dollar’s parent company, Delhaize Group, announced on Wednesday that it would leave the discount food market to focus its efforts in the traditional supermarket segment and sold its 66 Bottom Dollar store locations to ALDI Inc.

The locations in the Mahoning Valley include: 890 E. Midlothian Ave. in Youngstown; 2649 Glenwood Ave. in Youngstown; 3777 Mahoning Ave. in Youngstown; and 1756 North Road SE in Warren.

Bottom Dollar has 66 locations and 2,200 associates. There are also 20 stores in Pittsburgh.

Christy Phillips-Brown, director of external communications and community relations for Bottom Dollar Food, said there are approximately 30 employees per store. All of those employees were told of the closing first, she said. Employees – most of whom are part time – will receive severance and some who are eligible will receive career services.

The stores are expected to close during the first quarter of 2015.

The company was purchased for $15 million by ALDI, which operates more than 1,300 U.S. stores in 32 states.

Bottom Dollar opened its first store in King of Prussia, PA on Oct. 8, 2010.