GIRARD — Mayor Mark Zuppo said he is concerned with the number of dollar stores and tattoo parlors in the city, so he is asking for legislation to place a moratorium on the number of both to be allowed in the city limits.

Zuppo told city council Monday he met with Youngstown Mayor Jamael Tito Brown and Niles Mayor Steve Mientkiewicz about his concerns with the number of dollar stores in the city, some of which recently closed.

“These dollar stores are saturating areas. I have talked to other mayors on the increasing number of dollar stores everywhere. This was similar to all the drug stores we once had. Now, we have dollar stores on this corner and this corner,”‘ Zuppo said.

He said a Rite Aid store on U.S. Route 422 has closed and he was informed a Dollar Tree may locate there. Zuppo said he is seeing if a nondollar store will locate there.

“The dollar stores are flooding the market. I could be out in the middle of nowhere and be driving down a road, and there will be a dollar store,” he said.

Legislation on the moratorium for dollar stores was requested to be prepared for the Sept. 23 meeting. In addition, Zuppo said he also is seeking a moratorium on tattoo shops, noting the city already has four.

“We have four in Girard. That is enough. I am not against tattoo shops, but four is enough,” Zuppo said.

That legislation also was requested to be prepared for the Sept. 23 meeting.

Zuppo said he would like to get a grocery store in Girard and has spoken to Aldi, Sparkle Market and Rulli Brothers to see if there is interest.

“I have so many people asking me if Girard can get a grocery store,”‘ Zuppo said.

He said he learned that dollar stores have become the new type of grocery store.

Fourth Ward Councilman Thomas Grumley said there are many dollar stores and also many drug stores throughout the area.

This year, Youngstown council approved prohibiting certain types of businesses from opening in the city for about two years, including dollar stores, recreational marijuana dispensaries, motor vehicle repair businesses, and used and new car dealerships until at least May 1, 2026.

Youhngstown council members were concerned with reducing the number of what it says are “predatory businesses” that members say are bad for the city’s residents and economy.

In other business, Zuppo said while the city does support Trumbull Memorial Regional Medical Center in Warren in its efforts to stay open, the city can’t provide any financial assistance.

He said as a resident, he gave a personal donation but the city can only provide letters of support to the hospital.

‘We will support them in any other ways that we can,” Zuppo said.