FAMILY DOLLAR STORES INC
EXHIBIT 10(I)
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>EX-10.(I)
<SEQUENCE>3
<FILENAME>a2100882zex-10_i.htm
<DESCRIPTION>EXHIBIT 10(I)
<TEXT>
<HTML>
<HEAD>

</HEAD>
<BODY BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" LINK=BLUE  VLINK=PURPLE>
<BR>
<FONT SIZE=3 ><A HREF="#03ATA1030_2">QuickLinks</A></FONT>
<font size=3> -- Click here to rapidly navigate through this document</font>
<!-- TOC_END -->
<P ALIGN="RIGHT"><FONT SIZE=2><A
NAME="kc1030_exhibit_10_(i)"> </A>
<A NAME="toc_kc1030_1"> </A>
<BR></FONT><FONT SIZE=2><B>Exhibit&nbsp;10 (i)    <BR>  </B></FONT></P>

<!-- User-specified TAGGED TABLE -->
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="65%"><FONT SIZE=2>STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="32%"><FONT SIZE=2>AMENDMENT TO</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="65%"><FONT SIZE=2>COUNTY OF MECKLENBURG</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="32%"><FONT SIZE=2><U>EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT</U></FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<!-- end of user-specified TAGGED TABLE -->


<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;THIS
AMENDMENT, made and entered into effective the 16<SUP>th</SUP> day of January&nbsp;2003, by and between FAMILY DOLLAR STORES,&nbsp;INC., a Delaware corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the "Company"); and Howard R. Levine (hereinafter referred to as the "Employee"); </FONT></P>

<P ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>W
I T N E S S E T H: </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;WHEREAS,
the Company and the Employee entered into an Employment Agreement dated April&nbsp;29, 1997, as amended by Amendments to Employment Agreement dated August&nbsp;28, 1997,
August&nbsp;19, 1998, August&nbsp;29, 1999, August&nbsp;27, 2000, September&nbsp;2, 2001, and September&nbsp;1, 2002, (hereinafter referred to as the "Agreement"); and </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;WHEREAS,
the Company and the Employee desire to amend the Agreement; </FONT></P>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual covenants herein contained, the Company and the Employee agree as follows: </FONT></P>

<UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;1.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Section&nbsp;1.04
of the Agreement is amended by adding "Nevada" to the list of states constituting the "Present Territory." </FONT></P>


<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;2.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;The
first sentence of Section&nbsp;3 of the Agreement is deleted and the following sentence is substituted in lieu thereof: </FONT></P>

<UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;"3.
</FONT><FONT SIZE=2><I>Duties and Responsibilities</I></FONT><FONT SIZE=2>. The Employee shall be employed as Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company and
shall perform such reasonable duties and responsibilities as the Board of Directors of the Company or the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company may, from time to time, assign to
the Employee." </FONT></P>

</UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;3.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;All
other terms and provisions of the Agreement shall remain in full force and effect. </FONT></P>

</UL>

<P><FONT SIZE=2>IN
WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement in triplicate, all as of the day and year first above written. </FONT></P>

<!-- User-specified TAGGED TABLE -->
<TABLE WIDTH="100%" BORDER=0 CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="36%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD COLSPAN=3><FONT SIZE=2>FAMILY DOLLAR STORES,&nbsp;INC.</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="9%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="36%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
Attest</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
By</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="44%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>R. JAMES KELLY</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Vice Chairman</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="9%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="36%" ALIGN="CENTER" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2>/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>GEORGE R. MAHONEY, JR.</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Secretary</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="44%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="36%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
(Corporate Seal)</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="44%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="9%"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="36%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="44%" ALIGN="CENTER"><FONT SIZE=2>/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>HOWARD R. LEVINE</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE><FONT SIZE=2> Howard R. Levine</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="9%"><FONT SIZE=2>(SEAL)</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="TOP">
<TD WIDTH="36%"><FONT SIZE=2>Witness:</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="44%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="9%"><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
<TR VALIGN="BOTTOM">
<TD WIDTH="36%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
/s/&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>ALICE R. BARRIER</FONT><FONT SIZE=2>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;</FONT><HR NOSHADE></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="4%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="44%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="3%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
<TD WIDTH="9%" VALIGN="TOP"><FONT SIZE=2><BR>
&nbsp;</FONT></TD>
</TR>
</TABLE>
<!-- end of user-specified TAGGED TABLE -->

<HR NOSHADE>
<!-- ZEQ.=1,SEQ=1,EFW="2100882",CP="FAMILY DOLLAR STORES, INC.",DN="2",CHK=343660,FOLIO='blank',FILE='DISK022:[03ATA0.03ATA1030]KC1030A.;4',USER='SSTANSE',CD='15-JAN-2003;18:46' -->
<!-- THIS IS THE END OF A COMPOSITION COMPONENT -->
<BR>
<P><br><A NAME="03ATA1030_2">QuickLinks</A><br></P><!-- TOC_BEGIN -->
<UL>
<FONT SIZE=2><A HREF="#toc_kc1030_1">Exhibit 10 (i)</A></FONT><BR>
</UL>
<!-- SEQ=,FILE='QUICKLINK',USER=SSTANSE,SEQ=,EFW="2100882",CP="FAMILY DOLLAR STORES, INC.",DN="2" -->
<!-- TOCEXISTFLAG -->
</BODY>
</HTML>

</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
