J’s Dollar Plus

Sort of a scary little spot, but it’ll come in in a clutch! In my case, it was my dad-in-law’s birthday and I totally forgot the candles. I went to the 7 – 11 in this plaza, but they didn’t have any. I was already late and ticked off at myself when I noticed the little nondescript brown sign that said «J’s Dollar Plus.» I am not going to front: the end of the little strip of stores where J’s Dollar Plus was looked sketch as all get out. Folks loitering out front, talking loudly… and I just knew the guys were going to take a gander at my booty as I walked by and be all obvious about it, but I had no choice: I needed birthday candles and I needed them fast.
As I approached, it happened pretty much the way that I thought. One guy shouted to me «How you get your hair to just BOUNCE like that? Ooowee!» Uhhh… I don’t know… shampoo? And second guy, although I couldn’t see him do it, totally joined the first guy in looking at the boot-​ay. I could feel their eyes! Ugh! Why be so obvious?! Anyway…
To my surprise, the lone woman in the mix got up from her chair outside the store front and walked in with me. She wasn’t loitering. She was the owner. Oops! She was very nice and very helpful, asking me what I needed. I told her birthday candles, fully expecting that she wouldn’t have it since the last two little stores I went to didn’t and she chuckled and said «I thought you were going to say something difficult the way you paused like that.» She showed me to a nice selection — both small birthday candles and numbered candles. There were even balloons (you can get two filled for 50 cents if you bring in your own, btw! Steal!).
A quick dash in and out and I had what I needed. If you want fancy-​pants Dollar Stores (if there is such a thing), go to one of the chains. If you want a ‘hood spot that just has what you need when you need it and don’t have time to putz around, J’s will do. Just walk fast and ignore the catcalls out front.