Here for What Matters: How DG Chooses Store Locations

At Dollar General, our customers are at the center of all that we do, and meeting their needs is our top priority when choosing store locations. With approximately 75% of Americans within five miles of a Dollar General store, we are proud to serve as the country’s neighborhood general store in more than 20,000 communities, providing convenient access to affordable and quality household essentials.

“At its core, our real estate strategy is simple. We seek to provide communities with value and convenience,” shared Matthew Simonsen, Dollar General’s senior vice president of real estate and store development. “We believe the addition of each new store provides positive economic benefits as we  continue to evolve our store formats to best serve our customers and extend our mission of Serving Others.”

Our Process

In selecting store sites, we take a number of factors into consideration, carefully assessing each potential new store location to ensure we can continue to meet our customers’ price, value and selection needs.

As millions of Americans rely on Dollar General to provide convenient, affordable access to the everyday products they need and want, store locations are also often chosen based on our ability to serve customers in areas where other retailers either cannot or will not serve. In fact, approximately 80% of our stores currently serve communities of 20,000 or fewer residents. It is also not unusual for us to hear from customers and elected officials, especially in rural areas, asking us to bring a DG to their hometown.

Dollar General serves a variety of neighborhoods across the country, and we continue to tailor the DG experience to meet each community’s unique needs by choosing a store format with the relevant products. Read more about Dollar General’s current store formats and their offerings here.

Creating Career Opportunities for Local Residents

At Dollar General, our employees are at the heart of our company, and growth and development are hallmarks of our employee experience. As a growing retailer, we continue to create new jobs and opportunities for personal and professional development and, ultimately, career advancement. We believe the opportunity to develop a career with a growing and purpose-driven company is a unique competitive advantage, and we have a robust internal promotion pipeline as evidenced by nearly 74% of our employees at or above the lead sales position being placed from within.

The Company provides competitive wages, world-class and award-winning training and development programs and benefits including day-one telemedicine eligibility, as well as health insurance coverage options, 401K savings and retirement plans, tuition reimbursement, paid parental leave and adoption assistance to eligible employees.

Interested candidates can review and apply for available positions at careers.dollargeneral.com.

The Impact in Action:

We believe the addition of each new store provides positive economic benefits including affordable and convenient access to products for customers; the creation of new jobs and career and development opportunities for employees; the generation of additional tax revenue for local municipalities and the ability for area schools, libraries and nonprofit organizations to apply for Dollar General Literacy Foundation grants.

Dollar General’s impact goes beyond providing affordable access to household essentials.  Our stores also provide valuable services like DoorDash, FedEx, spendwell financial services and more to further support our customers’ needs.

Learn more about how DG is here for the communities we call home below:

·       Syracuse, New York: While DG is not a grocer, we understand the affordable access our stores provide to customers, often in communities where other retailers cannot or will not serve such as Syracuse, New York.

In living out the Company’s mission of Serving Others, DG recently opened two DG Market stores at 2711 South Salina Street and 401 West Seneca Turnpike, providing fresh meat, produce and additional essentials to  Syracuse neighbors.

“We are proud to serve the Syracuse community so residents can nourish their families in an affordable and convenient shopping experience,” shared Ed Zaleski, district manager of operations at Dollar General.

Check out this article from WSYR-TV in Syracuse to learn more.

·      Monroe, Louisiana: Dollar General opened its Jackson Street DG Market store in the southside of Monroe, marking the neighborhood’s first store offering fresh food in more than two decades.

“We are thrilled about the prospect of fresh produce it offers for the surrounding communities. The aisles are immaculate, fully stocked, and boast a diverse price range, catering from store-brand essentials to premium name-brand items,” shared District 5 Councilwoman Kema Dawson. 

·       Shellman, Georgia: After lacking convenient and affordable access to quality everyday essentials, local elected leaders advocated for Dollar General to invest in their community and open a store to serve the area. The Company answered their requests when doors opened on their new store in Randolph County. Read more.



“Shellman is isolated from most of the largest cities around it. People would have to travel for miles just to get quality products. The reason I advocated for Dollar General coming to Shellman was because there was a real need,” shared Senator Freddie Powell Sims.

Following the store opening, Shellman Mayor, James C. Weathersby shared: “They’re just so happy for it to be here. It has changed lives completely.”

·      Koshkonong, Missouri: Residents of Koshkonong created a social media campaign to request a local DG store, and we reached out to determine how best to serve this small Missouri town. Today, DG is an integral part of the community. Learn more.

“It’s just been a miracle for this town. Honestly, you wouldn’t believe the way people feel about this store. It’s their store,” shared Former Mayor of Koshkonong, George Hunt.

·      Fargo, Georgia: To commemorate the opening of DG’s Fargo location, Mayor Roy Abbott presented Dollar General’s senior real estate manager, Tom Brown with a key to the city to convey appreciation for Brown’s efforts to help bring Dollar General to the community.

“The opening of the new Dollar General store in Fargo has been a godsend, especially with the onset of COVID,” said Fargo Mayor Roy Abbott. “[The store] is a big boost to our local economy, since tourists visiting the State Park no longer have to buy supplies before they get here. [T]hey can get them here, now. That will help boost sales tax revenues, which is a big part of our budget.”

Read more.

·       Sledge, Mississippi: Sledge Mayor William Readus contacted Dollar General about the feasibility of the Company adding a store to serve his community of less than 400 residents. Approximately a year later, DG officially celebrated the store’s opening with the community and local officials.

“The highlight of my role at Dollar General is serving communities that are underserved and in need of a store that will enhance community members’ daily lives,” shared Mario Parson, Dollar General’s real estate manager. “We are grateful to Mayor Readus for reaching out to DG and partnering with us to offer residents an affordable place to shop in their hometown.”