Dollar General considering development of former Kroger building

There has been some activity going on at the former Kroger building in Nokomis recently. Old cooler and freezer equipment have been removed from the building as early as this past Monday, Aug. 9. All of this activity has been taking place while the sale of the building is still pending. Multiple news tips from local residents revealed not only the removal of said old equipment, but potential developmental plans by the Dollar General Corporation to open a Dollar General store at that location. However, there is some confusion and excessive cross-communication on the matter. Some of those submitting tips said there was just going to be a regular Dollar General store. Others would issue statements that there is going to be a boutique grocery store under the Dollar General banner in the building. There were also assumptions that the Dollar General store in the village of Coalton was closing.

Development is in “due diligence” phase

After requesting comment on the matter last week, a representative from Dollar General Corporation responded via email Monday. Katie Ellison, a senior manager of media relations at Dollar General, confirmed that the company is in a due-diligence phase for a new store at the former Kroger store location at 415 N. Spruce Street. “We’re interested in adding a new location to serve Montgomery County,” Ellison stated. “We have not committed to doing so quite yet.” Based on the company’s current timeline, they anticipate making a final decision on the project as early as this fall. Additionally, Ellison made a response to an inquiry about whether a new store in Nokomis could potentially close the store in the nearby village of Coalton. She confirms that the Coalton store would not receive any negative impact by the new store, should the project go through. “This proposed store would be a ‘new’ location,” Ellison noted. “It is not planned to replace an existing location.”

‘New’ store similar to Schram City rollout

This development may be similar to what is in Hillsboro, the second store of which would open in the village of Schram City. The only difference is the implementation of existing building infrastructure for a new store, similar to Dollar General’s former location in downtown Nokomis, 108 W. State Street, prior to developing in Coalton many years ago. “At Dollar General, we strive to be a positive business partner and good community neighbor,” Ellison continued. “We believe the addition of each new Dollar General store represents positive economic growth for the communities we proudly serve through the creation of local jobs and opportunities for employee development and career advancement, as well as through grants provided through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation that positively impact literacy and education initiatives at schools, nonprofits, and libraries.” What was not addressed by Ellison was the format of the store. Dollar General Corporation has two primary store formats: the traditional Dollar General store layout, and the DG Market store layout. The latter has a set up like a grocery store, similar to the store format of an ALDI.

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This is an annotated and revised version of an article published in the August 18, 2021 edition of the Nokomis Free Press-Progress.

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