Perhaps the Dollar General shoppers are poor enough that the store is a blessing to them.
I have shopped at Family Dollar in downtown Brooklyn but much prefer the 99-cents-and-up stores here. Toilet bowl cleaner for $1.49, and no need for a bus or subway ride? I’ll take it!
…are often times a physical “placeholder” by developers, biding time until they can build what they really want. The upkeep is very low, and often only requires one, or possibly two employees - we have so many self storage facilities here that it’s a joke. We often “bet” how long until the “real” thing(s) get built.
That’s what we say about donut shops- I mean who can support a business selling a piece of cake for a dollar or two???
I know the business model is predatory but there is a dollar general in every tiny town and the clientele is very poor.
Many don’t have reliable transportation and having a place to buy necessities is really important to the community.
Predatory in that they are positioned to drive out locally owned businesses that can’t compete with their prices. I personally find that DG shrinks their packaging as the way to lower prices.
We only have 2 in our town. One is the only store that’s close to our house so I will shop there so I don’t have to go across town to find a random item.
Not in our town but I am finding that DG is trying to put fresh produce in their stores that are isolating located. Big improvement.
Food deserts are real and I’m happy for anything that helps those communities
Our town is NOT poor by any means. And we have a dollar general. And there are a lot more (as I noted) within a 10 mile radius of my house. Their model is build more…then build more. Ours seldom has more than 2 cars in the lot.
But are there poor people in the town? Perhaps lower paid workers working there, even if they do not live there, but who may stop at the dollar store on the way home from work?
This is getting off topic…but the Dollar General in my town is located on a commuter route. Anyone driving past the one in my town has already driven past another deep discount store 3 miles before. And there is another Dollar General on the same road three miles past the one in my town.
No one can walk to this store in my town. No housing near enough.
So…really one Dollar General in this location is too many.
We are always surprised when a new bank get built in our town. Sure, we are growing. But so many people do online banking these days.
Interesting. I haven’t see that here. Storage facilities stay as they are.
Many bars and microbreweries in the little tourist area by the beach. It causes some issues late night when the bars close, although we avoid that area at that time.
Amusingly three ice cream places just opened in a two block area. One has been around forever but is reopening after a fire closed it down last year. One is the newest shop for a small chain that gets national acclaim for its unusual flavors. And the third is the newest shop for another local chain that gets its ice cream from a national company.
And not too far away is another local ice cream shop connected to a pie (sweet and savory) shop, also with unusual flavors. Plus somewhat close is yet another shop that features ice cream from different creameries around the country.
What we are missing is soft serve and/or frozen custard stands. There is one about six miles away. I do still miss Culvers.
So are you getting a Jeni’s?? 
There has been somewhat of an explosion of Culver’s in our region. I admit liking their burgers and an occasional cheese curds. Actually never had their ice cream though I know it’s a thing!
We have three Jeni’s. I do like the unusual flavors but feel like I have to take out a second mortgage in order to be able to afford the very small scoop 
On the subject of ice cream, we have a Ben & Jerry’s that has been around since we moved here 30 years ago. I hadn’t been in a while but visited a couple of weeks ago - I was shocked to see it empty on a warm, sunny spring evening and only 8 flavors available. Makes me wonder if they will close soon.
I have no idea! I’ve only been in there once or twice to buy gift bags b/c sadly, the Tuesday Morning right next to it closed when it went bankrupt. However, the DG has been the subject of several posts on our local FB page due to witnessed poor treatment of staff, staff quitting, being closed during normal business hours, etc.
Lighthouse is back, just got an An’s and a Scoop.
I knew somebody that worked for a firm that manages hundreds of storage facilities. Sounds like one of the industry strategies is to buy property one edge of town when it is relatively affordable. Later as the town grows they can opt to sell if that option becomes more profitable.
It’s custard, not ice cream 
I like Culver’s also, my husband is not a fan. The custard is good, it’s a soft serve but creamier and has more flavor than Dairy Queen. Although I like Dairy Queen. I just ate these last week on the husband’s golf night.
No fancy ice cream shops here.
This was great!
Did you know I wrote a short story about police & donuts…and posted it on CC?
Here’s the link Donut Tour - #30 by JustaMom
Does your screen name refer to West Virginia or Volkswagen (vwlizard)??
I ask because we have Honey Dew here in southern New England and find their donuts to be superior to Dunkin. Thought Honey Dew was restricted to our area.
If you’re not in West Virginia, sorry to bother you lol.
I have 4 high end mattress stores within a mile of where I live. Three of these stores are in the upscale mall nearby. H and I joke all of the time that they must be a front for something!