Retail store closures continue in the United States. Now, Dollar General has announced the closure of nearly 100 branches, as well as more than 40 Popshelf stores, which has generated uncertainty about the company’s future. If you’re a customer, here’s when the stores will close so you can be prepared.
When will Dollar General stores close?
According to the company’s statement, the selected branches will cease operations in the first quarter of 2025.
How many stores will Dollar General close?
It’s expected that 96 Dollar General stores and 45 Popshelf stores will close. Additionally, six other Popshelf stores will be converted into Dollar General stores.
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Where will Dollar General and Popshelf stores close?
Currently, the company has more than 20,000 Dollar General, DG Market, DGX, and Popshelf stores across 48 U.S. states. As of now, the specific locations to be closed in the coming days have not been detailed.
Why is Dollar General closing stores?
In its statement, the company noted that during the fourth quarter of 2024, it conducted a store portfolio optimization review, identifying underperforming branches, which will be included in closure or reorganization plans.
“As we look to leverage the substantial progress we made in our Back to Basics work in fiscal year 2024, we believe this review was appropriate to further strengthen the foundations of our business. While the number of closures represents less than one percent of our total store base, we believe this decision better positions us to serve our customers and communities,” said Todd Vasos, CEO of Dollar General, in the statement.
History of Dollar General
James Luther (JL) Turner suffered the loss of his father in an accident in 1902 when he was only 11 years old. In the face of this tragedy, he left school to work on the family farm and help his mother and siblings, which prevented him from completing his education. Aware that his education was limited, JL quickly set out to learn about the world around him. After two failed attempts in retail, he began working as a peddler of dry goods for a wholesale grocery store in Nashville. After ten years in this job, JL left sales and moved with his family to Scottsville, Kentucky.
During the Great Depression, JL began acquiring and liquidating bankrupt grocery stores. His only son, Cal Turner Sr., accompanied him on these liquidations from a young age, absorbing valuable business knowledge. In October 1939, JL and Cal opened JL Turner and Son Wholesale with an initial investment of $5,000 each. The wholesale business quickly gave way to retail, JL’s third and final attempt at the retail business. This transition led the company to exceed $2 million in annual sales by the early 1950s, marking the beginning of a successful trajectory.
The first Dollar General store opened in Springfield, Kentucky, on June 1, 1955, with a simple concept: no item would cost more than one dollar. The idea was a resounding success, and other stores under the ownership of JL Turner and his son Cal Turner Sr. quickly followed. By 1957, the 29 Dollar General stores generated annual sales of $5 million.
JL passed away in 1964. Four years later, the company he co-founded went public under the name Dollar General Corporation, reaching annual sales of over $40 million and a net income of over $1.5 million. In 1977, Cal Turner Jr., who joined the company in 1965 as part of the third generation of the Turners, became president of Dollar General, a role he held until his retirement in 2002. Under his leadership, the company grew significantly, surpassing 6,000 locations and reaching $6 billion in sales.
Today, Dollar General remains a reflection of the hard work ethic and friendly customer service that characterized the founding family. The company’s iconic yellow sign is synonymous with value, and its low-price model and everyday products have endured over time. Approximately a quarter of the merchandise in the stores still costs one dollar or less, maintaining the simplicity that defined its beginnings as the engine of its current success.
What is Popshelf?
In October 2020, Dollar General introduced a new store concept called Popshelf. The company highlighted that the goal of Popshelf is to provide customers with a fun, accessible, and stress-free shopping experience, focusing on home decor and seasonal items, cleaning products, party supplies, and more.
Due to its growing popularity among consumers, in 2021 Dollar General revealed plans to open nearly 1,000 Popshelf stores by the end of fiscal year 2025. According to the Popshelf website, the chain has over 220 locations in 21 states. However, after the 45 planned closures, the network will be reduced to about 175 stores.
