The Dollar General logo in front of a Dollar General Market store. Illustration by Ben Salinas // The Hub City Gazette
Dollar General has been a staple in many small towns across South Texas for decades, however the company now says they are closing down 144 stores nationwide because low-income consumers can no longer afford basic necessities.
This announcement comes after Dollar General’s parent company released their 2024 earnings report. “As a result of this review, the company plans to close 96 Dollar General stores and 45 pOpshelf stores,” the company’s statement read.
It was not immediately clear which locations would be slated for closure, however the company maintains around 20,000 stores nationwide, so it remains to be seen how this will impact Alice and the surrounding communities.
This news comes after other major chains have announced closures, bankruptcies, and restructures. Another contributing factor to this latest trend is the decades-long decline in the value of workers’ wages.
Since the 1980s, after a period of vast deregulation and economic growth, the purchasing power (the financial ability to buy products and services) has declined for average American workers.
This trend has only continued and was accelerated during the economic consolidation that took place during the COVID-19 pandemic.
So long as this trend continues, we will see more store closures, corporate bankruptcies, and further economic consolidation.