Dollar General has opened its first Montana store in the town of Columbia Falls. With that addition, the company now operates in all 48 of the contiguous United States.
Two additional Montana stores are under construction, one each in Lincoln and Sanders Counties, both of which the company Dollar General expects to open in fall 2023, the company stated, adding that it is evaluating additional Montana locations for future store development. Dollar General previously identified the Lincoln Country location as being in the town of Eureka.
Dollar General held a grand opening event at the Columbia Falls store as September closed, which included giving customers gift cards and complimentary product samples. The company also made a $10,000 literacy donation to Ruder Elementary School.
“Today marks an exciting milestone in our history as we extend our ability to provide customers with convenient and affordable access to household essentials throughout all 48 continental states,” said Steve Deckard, Dollar General executive vp of growth and emerging markets in announcing the move into Montana. “As America’s general store, we believe each new Dollar General represents positive economic impact, local job opportunities, community donations and literacy grant opportunities through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation.”
In the company’s second-quarter conference call, Jeff Owen, Dollar General CEO, stated the company’s growth in the United States will continue, with some ongoing focus on rural communities. He noted that about 80% of Dollar General stores today serve rural communities with fewer than 20,000 residents. He asserted that the company’s high-return, low-risk real estate model continues to work effectively. In the second quarter, Dollar General completed 849 real estate projects, including 215 new store builds, 614 remodels and 20 relocations. In 2023, Dollar General intends to execute 3,110 real estate projects across the U.S., including 990 new store builds, 2,000 remodels and 120 relocations.
