Communities fight the general dollar - and now the company continues
A small canton lost his battle against the Dollar store after being struck by a trial.
These days, it seems that you cannot travel more than five minutes on the road without meeting a store . And you don't only imagine it: Dollar store channels have developed faster than any other retailer in the United States in recent years. In fact, the recent growth of Dollar General has made it one of the largest companies in the country in terms of physical stores, with more than 19,000 locations spread across the country. But this taking of control did not come without counterpouil, and some communities fought against the construction of new general stores of new dollars. It turns out that the company does not drop without fighting apart. Read more to find out why cities are resisting Dollar stores and how Dollar General reacts.
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The communities fought against dollar stores.
Dollar general growth has been difficult to ignore. Between 2019 and 2021, the retailer opened its doors 3,025 new stores , company spokesperson Crystal said USA today . But these expansion efforts were not welcomed with a warm welcome everywhere. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB
According to a report from the Institute for Local Auto-Reliance (ILR), more than 70 cities and cities have Blocked with new dollars stores The development of their communities, and 50 cities have promulgated laws to limit the capacity of these channels to continue to develop.
"We could assume that the dollars channels simply respond to a need, offering basic detail options in communities short of cash. But evidence shows something else. These stores are not just a sub-product of distress Economic, there are one cause, "Ilr's researchers wrote. "As this report shows, in small towns and urban neighborhoods, a dollar stores lead grocery stores and other bankrupt retailers, leave more people without access to fresh food, extract the wealth of local economies, The crime and violence of sowing, and further eroding the prospects of the communities they target. "
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A city in Michigan has rejected a new general store.
In 2022, Dollar General set its goal Opening a new store In the canton of Nottawa, Michigan, Wood-TV reported affiliated to the NBC. But the small community of less than 4,000 people was vocal in its opposition. A hundred residents completed the canton during two public meetings to denounce a rezoning proposal that would allow the Dollar General Store to replace a cornfield.
"I would say that there was a couple who was a little neutral on this subject; I think everyone had opposed it," supervisor of the city of Nottawa Dave Peterson Tell Wood-TV.
Lifetime Merle Schwartz said residents were particularly concerned about the new store to a dollar harms local businesses, such as the Sand Lake Party store on the street.
"[The owner] depends on the local community obviously to buy it products, whether it be gas, meat; they are famous for their ice. We hated that it disappears because of a general dollar that takes too much 'Business on their part, "Schwartz told Wood-TV.
Other residents have also noted that there was already another general store 3.5 miles away and several other locations with 10 miles. The overwhelming opposition finally pushed the board of directors of the canton of Nottawa alongside residents and refuse the general development of the dollar.
"When people show up and have an opinion, it seems that the planning commission and the board of directors should listen to this opinion," said Peterson.
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But the company continued the Michigan community.
A new Mlive report revealed that the canton of Nottawa was prosecuted After voting against the zoning proposal. The trial was filed by Midwest V LLC, a developer working in the name of Dollar General.
The promoter filed a prosecution of 111 pages arguing that the vote of the Canton council denied him a regular procedure and an equal protection under the law, Wood-TV reported. The members were concerned with the potential costs of the pursuit and the distance in dollars, especially since the company wanted the canton to reimburse its legal costs.
"We had estimates that were $ 80,000, $ 100,000," Peterson told Wood-TV.
Consequently, the canton abandoned its struggle in January and agreed to allow Dollar General to build the store, with a regulation which did not require the community to reimburse the legal costs of the company.
"They intimidate their way, and they get what they want," lived in Nottawa Galen Geigley , who built a house next to the future general dollar, told Mlive.
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Dollar General said it was "deeply involved" in the communities it serves.
The construction is already underway for the general dollar in the canton of Nottawa, and the store should open this fall, Wood-TV reported.
Better life Contacted Dollar General about the battle for this place and a recent trial, and we will update this story with their response.
But in a press release at Wood-TV, the company said that "responding to customer needs" was one of its main priorities in terms of store choices. He also told the station that the store in the canton of Nottawa should employ six to 10 people and that the company is "deeply involved" in the communities it serves.
"We take into account a certain number of factors, carefully assessing each new potential store location to ensure that we can continue to meet the needs of price, value and selection of our customers," said Dollar General. "We are more striving to provide convenience to customers who may not have retail options nearby."