Citrus Heights 99 Cents store among hundreds closing across 4 states

By Sara Beth Williams–
Half-empty shelves and a “going out of business” banner now greet shoppers outside the Citrus Heights location of 99 Cents Only Stores at 7424 Greenback Ln.

A visit by Sentinel staff over the weekend found multiple empty and half-empty shelves throughout the store, with much of the store marked down from between 5 percent and 30 percent off. Checks are no longer accepted according to signage posted by the cash registers. All sales are final, and April 19 is the last day for anyone to use store gift cards.

Management did not know the exact date of closure for the Citrus Heights store but told The Sentinel that the location is expected to close before June 3. Further questions about the impact the local store closure would have on the community were referred to the store’s corporate office for comment.

The company announced the imminent closure of all 371 store locations across California, Nevada, Arizona, and Texas on April 5. The news release stated the company entered into an agreement with Hilco Global to liquidate all merchandise.

“This was an extremely difficult decision,” 99 Cents Only Stores Interim Chief Executive Officer Mike Simoncic told news outlets, adding that the “impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, shifting consumer demand and persistent inflationary pressures” contributed to the decision to close. News reports further stated that the company “pursued alternatives to closing for months” before making a final decision.

The recent closure announcement was met locally with mixed reactions from residents, with several local commenters online citing the rise of minimum wage as a catalyst for the closure while others expressed surprise over the announcement.

Founded in 1982, 99 Cents Only Stores carries “a broad assortment of name brand and other attractively priced merchandise and compelling seasonal product offerings,” the release said.

Along with its location in Citrus Heights, the 99 Cents Only Stores has multiple locations in Sacramento, Folsom, Rancho Cordova, and Roseville.

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