A new Family Dollar opened on Thursday and gave surrounding residents a closer option for food shopping.

The new, 9,180-square-foot store is located at 823 E. Washington St., and it will be open seven days a week. Family Dollar offers a broad array of items such as household products, food, beauty essentials and more.

Most shoppers on Thursday were happy to see a new store closer to their homes. Some residents are even within comfortable walking distance to the store.

“It’s a good thing to be able to travel to get to the store. It’s walking distance for most everyone in the neighborhood,” said Reginald Morris, a local resident.

Morris can now walk just two blocks to the Family Dollar rather than travel three miles to the Walmart on North Main Street.

“It’s good for the community. It’s a lot closer than the Walmart,” said Milton Park, another resident of the community. “The store will bring more business on this end of the neighborhood.”

This new location is the third and the largest Family Dollar in the city, and it’s the first national retailer to open in the area in many years.

“We have been hearing from people in our community who have been waiting for something like this,” Suffolk Mayor Linda T. Johnson stated in a press release. “Family Dollar’s expansion is a welcome addition to our growing city.”

The store officially opened its doors to the public on Thursday, but a grand opening ribbon cutting ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m. Saturday. The celebration will have giveaways and prizes, including a Coby Bluetooth speaker, gift baskets and a gift card raffle for patrons that attend.

Vice Mayor Leroy Bennett will attend the event to help cut the ribbon.