SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Shoppers are scrambling to take advantage of deals after learning all 99 Cents Only stores are closing.
The discount store made the announcement Thursday saying they plan to close all of their store locations in California, Arizona, Nevada and Texas.
Customers in Arden-Arcade say they're saddened and heartbroken to learn the news because they use it for staple items like milk, eggs and fresh produce.
To make things worse, there aren't a lot of grocery stores in the area.
Some shoppers at the 99 Cents Only store in Arden-Arcade learned about the closing while they were there.
"I just heard about it right now when I was shopping. There were a ton of people inside the store. I said 'lady what's going on?' And she said that they're closing, but she didn't say when, just that they were closing all the stores and I was like 'no way.' Because this store is like a staple in my house," said Bertha Hernandez, a mother who lives about 5 minutes away.
She says she goes there because it's convenient and affordable.
"I definitely shop here for things like milk, eggs, fruits, vegetables, cereal. My kids love cereal," said Hernandez.
And she's not the only one.
Elizabeth Freestone drove about 30 minutes from Rocklin since her store was already wiped out.
"We have a family of six so buying food and paying for all of our essentials is very high. We go to the store and spend $350 just on groceries," said Freestone.
The interim chief executive officer of the discount store cited the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting consumer demand and other economic factors as their reasons to close Thursday. So where will these customers go now?
"I'll probably be going to Dollar Tree. I think it's going to be more crowded," said Linda Goldberg, a 99 Cents Only customer.
Like others, she's concerned they don't have the food items most people buy at the 99 Cents Only.
Hernandez says she hopes once the store closes, they turn it into something the entire community can benefit from.
"If you think about it, all this traffic that comes in here is because of this store. Yes, DD's is here but not everyone shops here. Other options are like the liquor store and gas station. And the other small business over there. But if you think about it everyone benefits from this store," said Hernandez.
Customers and people in the Arden-Arcade community say they hope the building is converted into another grocery store so people still have a place to get their food items.
