Marietta tornado fall out

[Jeepnokc]

I heard tonight that Dollar General will not be rebuilding the warehouse. Big blow for their economy. https://kfor.com/news/dollar-tree-di...ornado-damage/

[Roger S]

Dollar Tree and I'm not surprised with quite a bit of news recently about Family Dollar/Dollar Tree struggling to keep stores open.

[Bunty]

Dollar Tree and I'm not surprised with quite a bit of news recently about Family Dollar/Dollar Tree struggling to keep stores open.

Are there too many dollar stores have been built? I wonder if the rural ones do as good as the intown ones.

[Pete]

Are there too many dollar stores have been built? I wonder if the rural ones do as good as the intown ones.

What is the allure?

The one and only time I went to a dollar store, I was living in SoSA and thought it would be cool to walk over to the Family Dollar at NW 11th and Classen. It was shockingly horrible: narrow aisles crammed with all types of junky merchandise in complete disarray, prices no better than Target, tons of trash in the parking lot, surly employee...

Yet, every time I drive by one of these places there are a bunch of cars in the parking lot... Why??

I get it in a small town with little choice but in OKC or any other city I just don't understand.

[barrettd]

What is the allure?

The one and only time I went to a dollar store, I was living in SoSA and thought it would be cool to walk over to the Family Dollar at NW 11th and Classen. It was shockingly horrible: narrow aisles crammed with all types of junky merchandise in complete disarray, prices no better than Target, tons of trash in the parking lot, surly employee...

Yet, every time I drive by one of these places there are a bunch of cars in the parking lot... Why??

I get it in a small town with little choice but in OKC or any other city I just don't understand.

My kids love going to Dollar Tree, and it's a very handy place to pick up cheap decorations, school supplies that you don't need in bulk, etc. and since it's so cheap, my kids feel like they're getting to buy a ton of stuff for not much money at all. There's a Dollar General a block away that I frequent if I just need to run in and grab one quick thing.

[Pete]

My kids love going to Dollar Tree, and it's a very handy place to pick up cheap decorations, school supplies that you don't need in bulk, etc. and since it's so cheap, my kids feel like they're getting to buy a ton of stuff for not much money at all. There's a Dollar General a block away that I frequent if I just need to run in and grab one quick thing.

That's interesting, thanks.


I hope Popshelf continues to expand. It's at least clean and well-organized

[Dob Hooligan]

What is the allure?

The one and only time I went to a dollar store, I was living in SoSA and thought it would be cool to walk over to the Family Dollar at NW 11th and Classen. It was shockingly horrible: narrow aisles crammed with all types of junky merchandise in complete disarray, prices no better than Target, tons of trash in the parking lot, surly employee...

Yet, every time I drive by one of these places there are a bunch of cars in the parking lot... Why??

I get it in a small town with little choice but in OKC or any other city I just don't understand.

I think it is the neighborhood store that isn't oppressively large. Quick in and out at 6,000sf, and usually 2 people in line, max. It might be dirty, but it's my neighborhood dirt. There will always be a place in the world for those.

[Mississippi Blues]

I think it is the neighborhood store that isn't oppressively large. Quick in and out at 6,000sf, and usually 2 people in line, max. It might be dirty, but it's my neighborhood dirt. There will always be a place in the world for those.

This is it for me as well. It’s quick and convenient (nearby) when I don’t need or want to go to significantly larger stores that aren’t as close to me.

Also, as someone that grew up going to stores like Save-A-Lot and Buy For Less at SE 44th & S High for food and Walls in Del City and Kmart in Midwest City for everything else, sometimes I feel out of place at “nicer” stores like Target or Costco, even though we go to the nicer stores way more nowadays and the stores are better kept.

[scottk]

What is the allure?

The one and only time I went to a dollar store, I was living in SoSA and thought it would be cool to walk over to the Family Dollar at NW 11th and Classen. It was shockingly horrible: narrow aisles crammed with all types of junky merchandise in complete disarray, prices no better than Target, tons of trash in the parking lot, surly employee...

Yet, every time I drive by one of these places there are a bunch of cars in the parking lot... Why??

I get it in a small town with little choice but in OKC or any other city I just don't understand.

Pete, I am with you. I don't get the allure in places where there are many other choices. I have been in a dollar store once and quickly left, it was as you described above.

I think the allure is the illusion of a good deal and certain people like the "treasure hunt" aspect of these stores. Also, smaller quantities are appealing to those on a budget. For example, a 100 oz bottle of laundry detergent may costs $14 at a big box store, the dollar store may sell it for $5 in a 24oz option. The big box store is an overall better buy, but if you only have $5 to spend, you think the dollar store is the better deal. The dollar store also knows this, and by selling smaller quantities gets you back more often, hopefully getting you to do more impulse buying. Also, if you live close to one, it may be more convenient than making a trip a few miles down the road to a big box store for something like milk, soda, toilet paper, etc.

There has been a ton of economic research on the impact (good and bad) of dollar stores in communities, both rural and urban areas. Oklahoma alone has 1/3 of its population in a "food desert" (https://alliedhealth.ouhsc.edu/Porta...-25-095958-890)

What amazes me is that a dollar store can pop-up literally in the middle of nowhere and survive as they can pull in people who use it as a convenience store rather than driving to a populated area for a big box store. I think dollar stores operate, at least functionally, like an Aldi. Smaller stores, limited hours compared to the big box counter parts, fewer employees on the payroll, and most items purchased are purchased as essential items. As someone pointed out in another post, dollar stores can survive and serve a population where Walmart, Target, and bigger grocery stores financially can not.

[G.Walker]

What is the allure?

The one and only time I went to a dollar store, I was living in SoSA and thought it would be cool to walk over to the Family Dollar at NW 11th and Classen. It was shockingly horrible: narrow aisles crammed with all types of junky merchandise in complete disarray, prices no better than Target, tons of trash in the parking lot, surly employee...

Yet, every time I drive by one of these places there are a bunch of cars in the parking lot... Why??

I get it in a small town with little choice but in OKC or any other city I just don't understand.

Stuff is cheap. Contrary to popular belief, Oklahoma is considered a poor state. So cheap goods will always sell. Everyone doesn't have the money to go to the mall, or shop at HomeGoods and Target. So it definitely fills a gap.

[jn1780]

Stuff is cheap. Contrary to popular belief, Oklahoma is considered a poor state. So cheap goods will always sell. Everyone doesn't have the money to go to the mall, or shop at HomeGoods and Target. So it definitely fills a gap.

Well the illusion of cheapness anyway especially when it comes to Dollar General. I don't understand why people would go to a Dollar store over a Walmart if they live in a larger city.

[cinnamonjock]

I have a cousin who worked there ever since he graduated high school. Between this and Michelin closing, that's a huge blow

[warreng88]

I was about to say, with the Michelin plant closing next year, what are the main employers in the Ardmore area?

[cinnamonjock]

I was about to say, with the Michelin plant closing next year, what are the main employers in the Ardmore area?

My dad retired from the valero refinery. There is a surprising amount of small employers that won't show up in when looking at the top employers.

[warreng88]

Looks like two the top 10 employers will not be around next year.

https://www.ardmoredevelopment.com/workforce/

Not sure when this was posted, but it reported Michelin employed 1,425, DT Distribution employed 430. I assume Dollar General distribution will remain open?

[Bunty]

Looks like two the top 10 employers will not be around next year.

https://www.ardmoredevelopment.com/workforce/

Not sure when this was posted, but it reported Michelin employed 1,425, DT Distribution employed 430. I assume Dollar General distribution will remain open?

I wish something could be done about America constantly losing so much manufacturing. The state tries to bribe new plants to open, but seems to do nothing to keep plants open that it does have.

[Roger S]

Not sure when this was posted, but it reported Michelin employed 1,425, DT Distribution employed 430. I assume Dollar General distribution will remain open?

I've not heard anything about Dollar General struggling and the Chickasaws and City of Ardmore are pumping a lot of effort and dollars into expanding the airpark and other infrastructure.

The Chickasaws just opened a new casino at Lake Murray that employed over 400 people.

Michelin closing that plant was purely a money decision. The infrastructure in the plant needed to be retooled and it was cheaper to move the production than modernize the plant and that's the nature of business and capitalism.

I've not been in a Family Dollar in years so I don't know if they started carrying fresh produce and other grocery items but when Dollar General changed their format to resemble a small version of Walmart Neighborhood Market I think it won them the Dollar store game.

Personally I have a Dollar General 5 miles from me and it's 16 miles to Ardmore. If I need a basic ingredient for cooking or a paper product. I'm stopping at DG before I make the drive to Ardmore.

[jompster]

I've not been in a Family Dollar in years so I don't know if they started carrying fresh produce and other grocery items but when Dollar General changed their format to resemble a small version of Walmart Neighborhood Market I think it won them the Dollar store game.

I don't know that they really "changed" their format. They did purchase most if not all of Walmart's failed Walmart Express stores - which were basically a smaller Neighborhood Market.

[Roger S]

I don't know that they really "changed" their format. They did purchase most if not all of Walmart's failed Walmart Express stores - which were basically a smaller Neighborhood Market.

They didn't originally carry fresh produce and their refrigerated food section was much smaller.

[Snowman]

I don't know that they really "changed" their format. They did purchase most if not all of Walmart's failed Walmart Express stores - which were basically a smaller Neighborhood Market.

I guess I do not know what their older stores were like, but the one they built a few blocks from my neighborhood a year or two ago seems basically a mini Neighborhood Walmart, with the exception not really trying to be price competitive with Walmart or grocery stores in the area. Though I could see how there might be a niche for people just wanting an item quick and older people who should not be driving having an option can walk to and retain a level of independence for several more years.

[warreng88]

In my experience, the rural one do better than in town ones because there is more to choose from and not a Wal-Mart or Target around.

[Midtowner]

That's a big blow to Love County. Might as well move the County Seat to Thackerville.

[jn1780]

Where is the nearest DT distribution facility? Did this one primary serve Texas stores?

[Pete]

The 'quick and easy and close' reasoning is interesting to me because it seems like CVS and Walgreens serve the same purpose and they were everywhere long before the dollar stores.

[Zuplar]

The 'quick and easy and close' reasoning is interesting to me because it seems like CVS and Walgreens serve the same purpose and they were everywhere long before the dollar stores.

There is a DG in every direction from my house before I'd hit a CVS/Walgreens store. I totally agree they serve a similar purpose, and I'd pick one of those over a DG most of the time. But it seems like DG has done a good job of putting themselves in these retail/food deserts. So for a lot of people this has become the quick in/out retail establishment and to be fair it's felt like this has happened all since right before Covid.