Memphis-based Fred's discount stores announced 159 store closures recently, and 14 of the stores on the list were in the Ark-La-Tex. The loss of Fred's has hit many people hard, because the discount chain has many fans who love their low prices and unique product mix.

While we were interviewing people for a story about the current store closures, a fan of the store from Texarkana shared a letter he wrote the company when a Texarkana store was closed in another round of Fred's store closings.

The local man, who asked that we not share his name, was so upset about the store closing that he decided to write a letter to the company to explain how the loss of the store would affect the lives of him and his family. When we heard about the letter, we asked him to search his computer to see if he still had a copy. Thankfully, he did.

He described how he and his family loved the friendly staff and that Fred's filled a "hole" in the market in Texarkana because for quality items at low prices.

Fred's still has stores in the ArkLaTex, and we hope these stores continue to thrive. But maybe - just maybe - local people who still have Fred's stores in their city should be like this local man and let the company know how much they appreciate the discount store.

Fred's is currently liquidating the stores on the closure list, and we hope Fred's employees affected by this find new jobs quickly.

(Below) Copy of letter from local man to Fred's about store closure
(Below) Stores being closed in the Ark-La-Tex:
Bossier City: 5751 Shed Rd
El Dorado: 430 S Bradley Ave
Gladewater: 601 Broadway Ave
Hope: 535 N Hervey St
Jonesboro: 310 E Main St
Kilgore: 605 N Henderson Blvd
Lindale: 1601 S Main St
Mena: 1201 Highway 71 S
Monroe: 2350 Sterlington Rd
Natchitoches: 400 Dixie Plz
Prescott: 1426 W 1st St N
Shreveport: 5907 Old Mooringsport Road
Stamps: 1110 E Antigo St
Tyler: 1803 E Gentry Pkwy