Mississippi-based discount retailer Dirt Cheap has filed for bankruptcy protection and announced plans to close all of its locations in Louisiana.

According to The Advocate, court filings in a Delaware bankruptcy court reveal that the company will close 68 stores in total. Dirt Cheap operates nine stores throughout Louisiana, including locations in Lafayette, Slidell, Hammond, Amite, Bogalusa, Houma, Bossier City, Monroe, and Franklinton. A tenth location in Zachary recently closed ahead of the bankruptcy filing.

According to a post on the company's Facebook page, the bargain store has already launched going-out-of-business sales at all its locations. Shoppers will have the chance to grab final deals, with extreme discounts on a wide variety of products.

Dirt Cheap built its reputation by selling returned, overstocked, and liquidated items from major retailers like Target, Amazon, and Macy’s. Customers flocked to the store for savings of 40% to 90% off retail prices, with frequent visitors sharing tips online for uncovering hidden treasures among the cluttered aisles.

However, despite the appeal of low prices, the company struggled as inflation reportedly cut into consumer spending. Dirt Cheap isn’t alone in this struggle by far. Discount retailers like Big Lots, Conn’s HomePlus, Family Dollar, and Dollar Tree have also been forced to close stores across the U.S. in recent months.

The bad news for Dirt Cheap marks the end of an era for bargain hunters in Louisiana, who will likely find this news bittersweet as they will lose a staple when it comes to deals but surely come away with deeper discounts on merchandise already insanely marked down.

Thrifty residents hoping to snag last-minute deals need to plan to visit their nearest store before the doors close for good.

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Gallery Credit: Madison Troyer

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