Mereda Johnson to hold town hall on proliferation of store closings

DeKalb County Commissioner Mereda Davis Johnson will host a town hall meeting to discuss the proliferation of store closings in South DeKalb. The meeting will be held on Monday, Jan. 22, 6 p.m., at the Lou Walker Senior Center, 2538 Panola Road.

“People are in a panic. I’m bringing in county officials and others to discuss the store closings that are happening in our area,” said Johnson.

Johnson said Andrew Baker, DeKalb’s director of planning and development, Chief Operation Officer for DeKalb County Zach Williams and Ray Gilley, president of Decide DeKalb Development Authority will be on hand to field questions. Commissioners Steve Bradshaw and Gregory Adams also will attend the meeting.

The Stonecrest Sam’s Club closing comes on the heels of other stores in South DeKalb closing including Kroger at 965 N. Hairston Road, Stone Mountain (closed Oct. 13, 2017); Publix, 2075 S. Hairston Road, Decatur (closing March 3, 2018); and Wal-mart supermarket, 6152 Covington Highway (Jan. 30, 2018).