10421301_10203072970319163_8179525822275382806_nIn a market where Family Dollar is considered a godsend, on account of they are omnipresent and have everything you ever needed, we are not too proud to thank Big Lots for putting up shop in a neighborhood evenly overlooked by so many major retailers.

Big Lots opened in the old Minyard’s space on Fort Worth Avenue at Colorado less than two months ago, and since then, we have picked up dog food, cheap sunglasses and pool floaties there. Maybe they don’t have a hummus bar like Central Market, but they do carry some organic gardening supplies, imported pantry foods and a selection of eco-friendly cleaning supplies. We will take it.

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But then this past weekend, our new Big Lots store went and poked at the Oak Cliff ego. The store installed temporary yard signs, announcing a 20 percent off sale, all along Fort Worth Avenue. That’s against city code, and worse, offensive to the eyes of those who work to make Fort Worth Avenue the best it can be.

Stevens Park resident Randall White of the West Dallas Chamber of Commerce spotted the signs Sunday. He pulled up about a dozen and brought them back to the store’s manager, whom White says told him the signs were put up by order of corporate.

Maybe the store manager misunderstood from where the directive came because Big Lots corporate says the signs were not produced by them. Kara Hillis in the retailer’s advertising division told us she would contact the district manager.

“I’m assuming they didn’t know they couldn’t do that,” she says. “We will let them know they can’t do that any more.”

So welcome to Oak Cliff, Big Lots! Please keep in mind that outsiders have been dissing our neighborhood for a long time, and that’s why we have to take ourselves very seriously. Even though you lack organic kombucha on tap, we thank you for giving us options on tiki torches, patio furniture and soon enough, Christmas decor. Just don’t mess with us.