Dollar General's rapid push into North Dakota creates worry in small towns

[TexasTowelie]

HANKINSON, N.D. — A change is coming to small-town North Dakota and it began here.

Last February, Dollar General, the giant Tennessee-based discount retailer, opened its first store in North Dakota on state Highway 11 in Hankinson. The move sent fear through the business community of this farming town, population 899. Similar concerns are being felt elsewhere.

The retailer has mounted an aggressive push into North Dakota. Already this year it has opened 11 stores in the state, and at least 8 other stores are under construction or in development. Almost all of them are in towns with fewer than 2,000 people.

Critics of Dollar General say the retailer hurts local businesses, pays employees poorly, drains money from local economies because profits leave town, and contributes little to the communities where it does business.

Read more: http://www.inforum.com/news/4372090-dollar-generals-rapid-push-north-dakota-creates-worry-small-towns

[madaboutharry]

1. People need to decide not to shop there.

[WhiteTara]

3. they won't. nt

[delisen]

2. Senator David Perdue R-GA, Trump activist

made a fortune as CEO of Dollar General, taking advantage of cheap manufacturing overseas while claiming to create good jobs here.

He was an early Trump activist and has acted as a highly vocal Trump Surrogate-but has become a lot quieter since indictments have begun.

[Qanisqineq]

4. I've noticed them in the small towns

And thought it was strange. Pretty soon the only shopping options outside of Fargo and Bismarck will be dollar stores and Walmart. Local restaurants are gone too, replaced with Dairy Queen and Subway.

[SCantiGOP]

5. Their corporate strategy from 20 years ago

Was to eventually have a store in every town over 5,000. At least in my part of the world (SC) they have met their goal.

[TexasTowelie]

6. They met that goal in my area also.

There is also a Dollar General in the small town where I grew up and the population there is around 2,500.