Dollar Stores are appearing all over the place and many are wondering why so many are being built.

  It turns out that Dollar Generals are causing a lot of controversy when it comes to local. According to Oregon Public Broadcasting, “critics maintain that dollar stores kill local businesses and offer poor value on products.”

  Not to mention these stores are everywhere, including areas where local businesses make a profit. Recently, builders just started constructing a Dollar General on the corner of W. Long Lake Rd and N. Long Lake Rd. Many people who live around that area started putting out signs in their yards saying “No Dollar Store.” People in that community even showed up to the township board and protested the building of a Dollar General in that location.

  According to MLive, the owner of Dollar General wants these stores everywhere, and building them is a key part of their growth strategy. Dollar stores have never been more popular.

  According to Medium.com, Dollar Generals have more locations than Walmarts, McDonalds and Starbucks in the U.S. “According to MLive.com, Dollar General doubled its Michigan footprint from 2016 to today.” The only county in Michigan that does not have one of these stores is Leelanau County. According to wgrd.com, locals in Leelanau County did not think it would be good for the area’s small, local businesses. The small store has set up shop in rural communities where larger retailers don’t exist. If you think about it, when you are driving around small communities and there aren’t any big grocery stores, you will always see these stores. 

  Although a lot of people are not supportive of these stores, many people are. For some, these stores are super convenient, especially if they live in rural areas with a limited number of stores to choose from. Dollar General sells basic necessities people need to live on a day-to-day basis. According to dollargeneral.com, they sell food, houseware, cleaning supplies, basic apparel and health/beauty products.