To some, dollar stores represent a spot for bargain-hunting. To others, it’s a blight that attracts crime. Ranchos de Taos successfully stopped a Family Dollar from opening there in 2018, citing traffic congestion community members said it would cause.
But to regular patrons, these stores are sometimes a lifeline — a place where fixed incomes stretch just enough to afford birthday cake and balloons; or where teachers and craft hobbyists can stock up on notebooks and paints.
“We know each other, and we know everybody by name now,” said Taos Family Dollar Manager Crystal Oyenque, who said she’s been working 70 hours a week to compensate for a lack of staff.
“Everybody tells us their story, and it’s like a little community,” she added. “I like it…
