|
BANNING,
Calif. -- Goodlettsville,
Tenn.-based Dollar General has opened a new store in the small
southern California town of Banning. It is the second discount
retailer to open in the city just this month. Family Dollar opened
in the beginning of July. Dollar General is not considered a dollar
store because only 25 percent of the products are priced at one
dollar. The new store houses 9,100 square feet of retail space.
It is located at 1323 W. Ramsey St., just north of Interstate
10. About 14 employees were hired for the new store with many
of them coming from the local community.
"I
was used to them in Illinois and I'm glad they're coming to California,"
said Jerri Palmer, a shopper from Banning, Calif. "I like
their specials and it's just a good store. We only really had
Walmart and Dollar Tree so this gives us more advantage. I'm glad
the stores are coming to Banning because we need the tax base.
I was just coming here my first stop. I've got to go get cat food
at another store and just go to Home Depot. I'm just doing errands."
Three
hundred reusable gift bags were passed out during a public grand
opening event on Saturday, July 28 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"I
think it's cool, a lot of cheap stuff inside that you can buy,"
said Mario Reyes, another customer from Banning, Calif. "Everybody
is nice. I was shopping at like Food4Less and Stater Bros. all
the way down there. Since they opened this, it's a lot closer
and a lot better. I just got some water and snacks to relax the
day and kick back. The prices are excellent, very low and affordable."
Free hot
dogs, popcorn, chips, soda and bottled water were also given away
at the grand opening event.
"It
was clean, there was a pretty good selection," said Jim McCormack,
a shopper from Banning, Calif. "The prices I was a little
bit disappointed in. I got the $5 coupon and I appreciated that
so it turned out to be a pretty good experience. I always go to
Walmart, but I had the coupon so I thought I'd go to Dollar General
to see if I can avoid driving all the way over to Walmart. I picked
up some toilet paper and some odds and ends that were off my list.
To tell you the truth, I think Walmart is a little bit cheaper."
Dollar
General offers a wide variety of name brand items such as office
supplies, food items, apparel, accessories and much more. The
store also offers its own private label brand.
"I
live right up the street so it's actually really convenient that
they opened it here," said Tara Trimble, another customer
from Banning, Calif. "I used to shop at Walmart all the way
over in the next town. It's nice to have a place closer to home.
I just got little things like toilet paper and stuff like that.
I just wanted to check it out really. The prices are pretty good.
They are about the same everywhere."
The discount
retailer hopes to have 50 stores open in California by the end
of the year. Their first store in the Golden State opened in Montclair
this past March.
"It's
nice, we finally have something new in this city," said Paul
Tucker, a shopper from Banning, Calif. "I've only lived here
a year, but I made a promise when I moved here I was going to
do all of my business in this town to help it try to thrive. It's
good to see somebody coming in new. I used to shop at the store
a few doors down--I won't mention it. I picked up a few items
for a BBQ this afternoon--some charcoal, some soda, some spices
I'm going to barbecue up some hot dogs for our work crew. The
prices are pretty reasonable."
Palm Springs,
Calif. country music radio station The Big 106 (KPLM-FM) was also
on hand for the grand opening event.
"We
opened about a week and a half ago and we're here to serve the
local community," said Saul A. Mejia, district manager for
the new Dollar General store. "We have approximately 14 employees--a
manager, two assistant managers, a team leader and potentially
about 10 part-timers. We're very different, we're not actually
a dollar store. We do have a lot of offerings in terms of dollar
values. We have everyday needs merchandise such as deodorants,
health and beauty aids, groceries, milk, eggs, bread, tortillas,
beans, rice, what have you. It's a very condensed store, small
so it's easy to come in and get what you need so you're saving
a lot of time and money."
The new
Dollar General store is open for business at 1323 W. Ramsey St.
in Banning, Calif. 92220.
Related
Story: Grand
Opening of the Family Dollar store on Ramsey Street in Banning,
CA
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
The new Dollar General is the second discount retailer
to open in Banning, Calif. this month.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
It
houses 9,100 square feet of retail space.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Dollar
General hopes to have a total of 50 stores open in California
by the end of the year.
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO
/ ©AMERICAJR.com
Grand
Opening signs along Ramsey Street
PHOTO
BY JASON RZUCIDLO / ©AMERICAJR.com
Free
hot dogs, popcorn, chips, soda and bottled water were given away
at the grand opening event.
