Dollar Stores carry essentials

A letter writer from Wheaton (“Why the open Dollar Stores?,” May 22) asked his question about Dollar Stores to point out poor and unreasonable decision-making over which stores were allowed to stay open while others were shuttered during the pandemic. Closed stores T.J. Maxx and HomeGoods were used as examples of “arbitrary, discriminatory and capricious” decisions imposed by officials.

I suspect there is no perfect metric for making these complicated decisions, which have tremendous implications for business owners and residents. However, in the case of Dollar Stores, they are often among the few viable businesses located in marginalized and under-resourced neighborhoods, where there is a huge scarcity of boxbox stores. And Dollar Stores carry products essential in this present time like bleach, disinfectant, hand sanitizer, first aid products, toilet tissue and paper towels.

So, in this particular case, I believe keeping the doors open at Dollar Stores was the right call.