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AHOSKIE – A business that has catered to local families and provided local employment opportunities for 87 years is closing its doors here.

Belk, located in the Ahoskie Commons Shopping Center, is closing permanently effective Monday, July 15, according to a notice posted on the front door of the business.

“After careful review, we made the decision to close our store in Ahoskie, NC on Monday, July 15,” said Jessica Rohlik, Senior Manager of Public Relations for Belk. “We are grateful for the contributions our associates have made and we are committed to working with those impacted by this closure to provide resources through their transitions.”

Rohlik added that the Ahoskie Belk is currently offering customers 65 percent off regular-priced items and 75 percent off clearance items in-store.

Following the closure of the Ahoskie location, Rohlik said customers can visit Belk stores in Williamston, Elizabeth City, and Roanoke Rapids or shop for all their favorite products online at Belk.com and through the Belk app.

“We’re sad to see Belk closing,” said Connie Poland, Executive Vice President of the Ahoskie Chamber of Commerce. “Belk has supported the Ahoskie Chamber for a very long time.”

Poland also expressed her dismay personally.

“I’m real upset they are closing. That’s where I shop,” she said.

As note earlier, Belk has a long history in Ahoskie. The department store offered men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, shoes and accessories as well as home furnishings, jewelry, and cosmetics.

Then known as Belk-Tyler, the first store in Ahoskie opened in September of 1937 in the Parker Building, located in the 100 block of West Main Street and later moved to the Thornton’s Furniture building (where Farmers Furniture is located today).

On Nov. 12, 1957, Belk-Tyler moved to a building on East Main Street (now an empty lot across from the old Wells Fargo Bank).

In 1968, company officials opted to build a 45,000 square foot store at 415 East Main Street (home today to Jernigan Oil & Propane). That store, which also featured an auto tire and battery center, opened on Feb. 20, 1969.

Nearly 25 years later, Belk moved again, opening a store on July 28, 1993 at its current location in the Ahoskie Commons Shopping Center.

The department store chain was founded in 1888 by William Henry Belk of Monroe, NC. In 1909, the company moved its headquarters to Charlotte where it remains today.