YOUNGSTOWN, Ohio - Area Bottom Dollar grocery stores are selling off their remaining inventory as they plan to shut down next week.

The discount chain announced late last year that they were bought out by the Aldi grocery stores, which is retiring the Bottom Dollar name.

112 people were employed at the three Bottom Dollar Stores in Youngstown and one in Warren.

Bottom Dollar spokesperson Erin DeWater tells 21 News that they plan to have the local stores closed by Thursday, January 15. DeWater says some stores may close earlier if the inventory is depleted.

Some stores are having sales to eliminate remaining inventory. The Bottom Dollar on Mahoning Avenue in Youngstown began a sale on Thursday, offering 25 percent off. Many of the stores and refrigerated cases were already empty by Thursday morning.

Youngstown Director of Community Planning and Economic Development T. Sharon Woodberry tells 21 News that the city has been in discussions with Aldi officials attempting to learn plans for the future of the buildings.

She has asked Aldi to give the buildings to the city as a gift if they don't have plans to open new Aldi stores there. Woodberry hopes to have an answer by March.

Aldi already operates seven stores in the area, including locations in Boardman, Youngstown, Austintown, Salem, Warren, East Liverpool and Hermitage.