Like a swarm of mini-Walmarts three national “dollar stores” continue to pop up in almost all Tulare County towns.The three largest rival retailers,Family Dollar,Dollar General and Dollar Tree appear to be in a flat out race to open the most outlets in the county and often to be first to do so – in towns never targeted by national retail chains before.
Saving a buck has never been more popular.
Next week construction of the new Family Dollar store on Ave 328 in the farm town of Invanhoe will start from scratch says the project manager for Construction Developers Inc of Fresno, who plans to have the 8320 square ft building “completed in 90 days.”
The fast growing, publicly traded retailer already has locations open in Dinuba,Farmersville and Woodlake and 3 stores – built or on the drawing board in Tulare – as well as one in North Visalia. Last October, Family Dollar said they want to open 500 stores nationally in 2013.
This week the county’s Economic Development Manager – Mike Washam says new permits have been issued for Family Dollar stores in Cutler-Orosi on Ave 416 and in Terra Bella in southern Tulare County.
Lindsay Plans
Also this week the Lindsay City Council is holding a public hearing for a new Family Dollar store to be built at the southeast corner of Mariposa and Ave 65. And that’s not all.
Even more impressive – at the same meeting – the Lindsay council is being asked to approve an application to build a 9100sf Dollar General – Family Dollar’s big rival – at the southwest corner of Hermosa and Mirage,just down the block. The project would demo two older buildings to make room.
Woodlake/Exeter
There is also a new Dollar General store expected to break ground in Woodlake soon says Woodlake city planner Greg Collins. In addition Collins says a company representative is meeting with him this month in Exeter and wants to build a new Dollar General store in Exeter too, where is also the city planner.
Dollar General has stores ether open or ready to build in Porterville, Farmersville,Visalia,Tulare and now one being planned in previously ignored Earlimart at Ave 56 and Hwy 99, says Mike Washam, part of a small strip development in this low income town of 8500. Dollar General would be part of a new shopping center on the north end – the town’s first.
Not to be left too far behind is Dollar Tree with locations in Dinuba,Tulare, Visalia and Porterville and Farmersville (where all three rival dollar stores will go head to head).
Dollar Tree offers household goods, seasonal items and assorted knickknacks all priced at a $1 or less. The discount chain has enjoyed robust sales -up 14.6% in the latest quarter or $2.23 billion.
Of course there are other players in this category including 99Cent Only stores in Visalia,Porterville and Tulare and scores of smaller Mom & Pop stores that use the “99Cent” name too.
Analysts say instead of offering a Walmart retail model of a few big stores to attract hoards of thrifty customers from the hinterland – these pint-sized but modern formatted dollar stores are offering a downsized discount store experience close to where the shopper lives. Cash strapped shoppers looking for low prices on basic items can make fewer car trips to the larger communities on items that sometimes include groceries, particularly at larger Dollar General locations.
Consider just a few years ago there were none of these national dollar stores in Tulare County compared to an estimated 25 locations slated to be open in the next year.