ISABELLA INZINNA
Staff Writer
A new store has opened its doors in the T.J. Maxx plaza.
Unconfirmed rumors of a Five Below opening in Dunkirk started at the end of last semester. Once it became official, Fredonia students showed a lot of excitement.
Five Below is a chain of stores that feature cheap items that are often five dollars or less (as the name implies).
Common items found at Five Below include unique snacks, trinkets and trending items such as neon signs and sunset lamps.
Not only is the location right in the town of Dunkirk, but it’s just two miles away from the SUNY Fredonia campus. If you don’t have access to a car, the campus and community bus has a stop in the T.J. Maxx plaza. This makes the store’s location very accessible to students.
The store opened on Sept. 22 and many students have a lot of good things to say.
Molly Sunick, a freshman music industry major, said, “The Five Below is super handy for [things like] dorm decor, snacks, phone accessories and crafts.”
Sunick brings up a very good point: Five Below does have a great deal of variety. From makeup and clothes to workout gear and car accessories, the store carries a diverse range of products, making it a one-stop-shop.
However, the variety isn’t the only thing drawing in customers.
One of the most appealing aspects of the store comes from the name. The implication that all products cost five dollars or less draws in many college students.
Justin Malinowski, a junior social studies adolescent education major, mentioned the pricing as one of the things he liked. “Their snacks are really cheap with college-friendly prices,” he said.
Jose Morales, one of Five Below’s assistant managers, talked about how the staff there feels the store can positively impact the community.
“Not all college students have a lot of money, and everything here is affordable and a good price,” he said.
Another incentive of shopping at Five Below is the seasonal section.
Since it is now October, students have another location to purchase Halloween gear.
One cashier also commented on the “boo basket” trend on TikTok and how it’s bringing in customers.
If you don’t have the app, here’s a quick rundown:
A boo basket is a small candy bucket filled with Halloween-themed items typically made for a significant other.
The cashier said that, “We’ve had a lot of people coming in for boo baskets looking to make gifts for their partners.”
It is likely that the draw of the seasonal section will continue as boo baskets turn into holiday gifts.
Many student reactions to the store’s opening so far have been very positive, whether they’re shopping for snacks, their dorm/apartment or any other occasion.