Suffolk Place, an affordable housing complex in Lowell, as seen on Nov. 8, 2026. (Courtesy Melanie Gilbert for Inside Lowell)
by Melanie Gilbert
LOWELL – A third location of Family Dollar, the discount variety store, is under construction at 565 Market St. The store will be located in the ground-floor retail space of Suffolk Place, the four-story, mixed-use affordable condo development at Suffolk and Market streets in the Acre neighborhood.
Family Dollar’s existing locations include 1665 Middlesex St., operating since 1995, and 21 Nottingham St., operating since 2016.
“Family Dollar operates as a neighborhood-oriented retailer focused on providing affordable access to everyday necessities,” the company said in an October public statement. “By providing these products at value-oriented prices, Family Dollar serves working families, seniors, individuals on fixed incomes, and residents seeking convenient access to daily necessities close to home.”
The proposed 6,500-square-foot store will offer a wide range of products, including groceries and snacks, household goods, cleaning supplies, health and beauty products, seasonal merchandise and other items.
A tiered lease, executed in August, is based on length of occupancy. The terms start at almost $98,000 per year for the first five years with extensions up to $157,000 per year. The estimated project cost is $175,000.
Suffolk Place was approved by the city’s land-use boards in 2024. It replaced small businesses such as Prathna Convenience store and the Domingo Barbershop, as well as several vacant storefronts.
The property, a mix of one –and two-bedroom units, is located in the urban mixed-use zoning district. A UMU district focuses on revitalizing the commercial areas in the urban neighborhoods near downtown.
Unlike its other two locations, this Family Dollar will not have a parking lot. In October 2023, the City Council approved the downtown mixed-use zoning ordinance, which changed the required off-street parking to zero spaces per unit for residential developments. No reserved parking spots are associated with the residential or commercial development.
A view of the interior construction site for the proposed Family Dollar at 565 Market St. in Lowell, as seen on Nov. 8, 2026. (Courtesy Melanie Gilbert for Inside Lowell)
But street-level parking is available throughout the densely populated neighborhood. The proposed Family Dollar sits directly across from North Common Village, a low-income, mixed-family community.
That complex is the largest of the Lowell Housing Authority’s developments, with a total of 524 units spread across 36 buildings. It also lies within walking distance of City View Towers, LHA’s senior housing complex. Acre Crossing Residences is one block away, which is another affordable housing development with 32 units.
Proposed developments in the immediate vicinity include LHA’s Merrimack Corridor Development Project, a 118-unit affordable housing project on two vacant sites in the neighborhood.
“Over the course of nearly three decades in Lowell, Family Dollar has become a familiar and reliable resource for working families, seniors, students, and other residents seeking value-oriented shopping options close to home,” Family Dollar said. “The company’s long-term investment in the City demonstrates its commitment to serving Lowell residents and contributing to the local economy through employment opportunities, tax revenue generation, and ongoing commercial activity.”
The project does not require review from the Lowell Historic Board, which expediates the development, construction and opening of the proposed storefront.
The project comes before the Zoning Board for a special permit on Nov. 23, which meets at 6:30 p.m. in the second-floor chambers of City Hall, 375 Merrimack St.
A rendering of the proposed Family Dollar storefront at Suffolk and Market streets in Lowel’s Acre neighborhood. (Courtesy Family Dollar)
