Community Chat

[novamc1]

Probably because of high  costs and scarcity of land in our part of the county, I've only seen one Dollar Tree near us,.  You'd have to go further out to see any of the other dollar store names, where real estate costs aren't so high and the demographics might be a better fit.

I know people think  the Dollar Tree  close to our neighborhood is the best source of paper goods when throwing a large casual party or event.  

I have visited Big Lots stores in two Georgia cities, but found them absolutely awful.  Actually bought a garden hose there when we first moved here........it lasted through a few uses before it sprang a huge leak.  Pretty junky.  Was not impressed with the limited food offerings of canned and boxed goods.either.  Also remember seeing plenty of off-brand names on over-the-counter drugs and toiletry items, which even looked rather dusty.  Ugh.

If people need food and don't want to pay full-service grocery store prices, the local  Walmarts offer some good bargains and selection on fresh, frozen and canned goods, plus a service deli and a pharmacy.

Aldi is really good for many types of fresh produce and frozen food, among other items. No dollar store could compete very well in our area against all the rest of the big chain stores.

[novamc1]

@Johnnyeager 

The  OP story quotes one  local official who is  looking into preventing too much proliferation of dollar stores.   I don't see the validity of your statement that this implies "elitism".

We can agree to disagree on that, based on what the story said.

The official said she doesn't object to that type of store and often shops at them, but apparently doesn't want vacant land in her jurisdiction automatically being grabbed by too many of the same type of stores.

It seems to me-- after many years of being in and observing the real estate business (as well as the stock market where these dollar stores are traded)-- that growing too much too fast of just about anything can bring that "thing" down hard eventually.

Corporate offices of dollar stores  have indicated that they are just getting started on expansion plans.  The story also notes how fast and far these stores have  already proliferated in just several years.

The more something rises or increases, the harder it can fall. That's the law of gravity......or something like that.

Suppose these stores or their corporations decline or go out of business.... the victims who will be hung out to dry could be the employees, townspeople and towns relying  too heavily on them.

Retail diversity and competition  in any town has a definite upside, I think.  Corporations and their stock shareholders are not charitable organizations who settle for minimal profits, either.

[software]

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@ValuSkr wrote:

@software   I wouldn't call Dollar General a "dollar store."  It's a supermarket in most senses of the word.  I don't think anyone objects to their proliferation - if in fact they are proliferating, and I don't think they are. 

It's the true dollar stores that concern leaders in rural and low-income communities.  They don't want to eradicate them; they just want to avoid driving out legitimate supermarkets.  How they do that can be debated, but I think most will agree it's a reasonable objective.

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Call it what you want, Dollar General was mentioned in the original article and post.   So was Family Dollar and Dollar Tree.   They get lumped together, you are splitting hairs.   I'd love to see an example of a Dollar Tree running off a supermarket.   Doesn't happen.

[novamc1]

@software 

Judging from the flyer in this morning's metro Atlanta daily newspaper, Dollar General is selling a lot of Christmas decorations, cheap personal care appliances, "as seen on TV" items,  canned foods such as soups and spaghetti sauce, nonperishable baking goods such as chocolate chips, cheap cooking and baking wares, soft drinks, bottled juice, many types of snacks.

Refrigerated items appear limited to bacon, sausages, frozen pizza and refrigerated Pillsbury biscuit dough. 

No fresh produce, dairy or fresh meat are shown.  If they sell those foods, I wouldn't know that from looking at the ad.

Have never been in a Dollar General store, so maybe they do???

[software]

I shop there probably once a week, but not for groceries

However I could put together a meal if necessary.

There's a frozen section for dairy & meat, plus canned vegetables

The frozen meat is not limited to what you mentioned.  I've seen vac packed steaks & other protein.    There is plenty of dairy.   Always fresh milk, cheese, sour cream, etc.

Again, wrong on the dairy.

It's much better than your worse fast food.  

It's a choice, not a lifestyle.

I'm personally glad I have the choice, I can't always navigate a full grocery store.

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@novamc1 wrote:

@software 

Judging from the flyer in this morning's metro Atlanta daily newspaper, Dollar General is selling a lot of Christmas decorations, cheap personal care appliances, "as seen on TV" items,  canned foods such as soups and spaghetti sauce, nonperishable baking goods such as chocolate chips, cheap cooking and baking wares, soft drinks, bottled juice, many types of snacks.

Refrigerated items appear limited to bacon, sausages, frozen pizza and refrigerated Pillsbury biscuit dough. 

No fresh produce, dairy or fresh meat are shown.  If they sell those foods, I wouldn't know that from looking at the ad.

Have never been in a Dollar General store, so maybe they do???

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[stevieb]

I understand, though could be ill-informed, that the local honchos in my neck of the woods have limited large box stores along certain corridors and have even moved to prevent an existing larger box store to expand onto land tney already own, which would permit them to be more of a full-service operation. Personally, I resent it, because the corridor in question is nothing special and better shopping could only improve the area.

As for the dollar stores, there already seems to be one in every strip mall and one does wonder how many are really necessary and how they would all be viable.

[MomCat]

How absurd!  Let the market thrive.  There is no shame in shopping in these fun stores.  I live in a small rural town that has numerous dollar stores, as well as a Walmart.  They all do a booming business.  Even the grocery store has gotten onboard with a dollar section in their store.  It's all good! 

[ValuSkr]

@MomCat   The objection has been raised in poor communities that have nothing but dollar stores.  They would like to have a supermarket, better choices, etc.  I know of at least two such communities.  In one, a not-for-profit organization stepped in to start a supermarket.  In the other, the local government did the same.  Their prices would seem high to us because they don't have the purchasing power of a large chain.  So time will tell if locals will support them.

The rest of us who already have choices love dollar stores, of course.  What's not to like, after all.  No argument there.

[suzyQ3]

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@ValuSkr wrote:

@MomCat   The objection has been raised in poor communities that have nothing but dollar stores.  They would like to have a supermarket, better choices, etc.  I know of at least two such communities.  In one, a not-for-profit organization stepped in to start a supermarket.  In the other, the local government did the same.  Their prices would seem high to us because they don't have the purchasing power of a large chain.  So time will tell if locals will support them.

The rest of us who already have choices love dollar stores, of course.  What's not to like, after all.  No argument there.

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Yes, @ValuSkr , the "let the market thrive" ideology often willfully ignores equality,