Austin’s Family Dollar will be closing sometime before Christmas, according to manager Susie Beyer-Fink.

Beyer-Fink said the store has five employees, but deferred all other questions to the store’s corporate office. No one was immediately available there Wednesday morning.

“I feel so bad for the many loyal customers,” said employee Marilyn Prenosio. “It’s just sad.”

Prenosio said employees heard Tuesday the store would close.

Oak Park Mall marketing director Shan Kehrit said the closure is “very unfortunate.”

“I’m trying to build the mall up,” she said. “Hopefully we’ll be getting new stores coming in.”

The mall announced in October that a southern-style BBQ restaurant, called Ole Barn BBQ, would be opening as soon as Dec. 1.