The Family Dollar plans to open a store in Dolores by next year.
The vehicle storage lot at 1008 Central Ave. was purchased as the location for the new store.
Demolition permits were obtained from the town to take out structures in preparation for the build. The store’s new address and main access will be on Highway 145 (Railroad Avenue), just west of GST Liquor.
“We are slated to open on Railroad Avenue in the second half of 2016,” said Bryn Winburn, media relations manager for Family Dollar. “We are thrilled about this new location. The new store offers the best Family Dollar has to offer in our expanded assortment of products and new layout.”
Engineers and architects with the company are working on a site plan for the store with town officials. No building permit has been issued yet.
The new store will be subject to town regulations in the land use code, building code and flood plain ordinance. The lot is zoned as highway commercial.
The building can not be more than 10,000 square feet, according to regulations, and it cannot cover more than 50 percent of the lot.
Town regulations call for natural, or naturally appearing siding, a parking area, a sidewalk plan, some landscaping and proper signage. The lot is within the flood plain so the bottom floor must be at least one foot above base flood elevation.
Family Dollar recently built a store in Mancos, and replaced a store that burned down in Cortez. A Family Dollar store has also recently opened in Dove Creek.
According to their website, Family Dollar offers an assortment of merchandise, including, household cleaners, name-brand foods, health and beauty aids, toys, apparel for every age, seasonal items, pet-care products and home fashions.
“While shopper can find many items at $1 or less, most items in the store are priced below $10, which makes shopping fun without stretching the family budget,” the website states.
Winburn added that the store offers many grocery staples, including dairy products, meat, grains and frozen fruits and vegetables.
Dolores is not known for national chain businesses, and there is only one – the Giant gas station. Reaction to the store’s arrival has been mixed, with some for the added retailer, jobs and tax revenues and others preferring locally-owned shops.
In the past year, Dolores has seen two businesses close, The Hollywood and The Naked Moose, and two open, Doc’s Outdoor Sports, and That Place in Dolores.
Town officials explained that new businesses can move forward if they are in compliance with local regulations.
If the company requests any variances or exceptions to the town regulations they would be reviewed by the planning and zoning board, include public comment, and be approved or denied by the town board in open session.
Winburn said Dolores is a good fit for Family Dollar based on the results of sophisticated modeling software and input from local realtors. He said the store will be approximately 8,300 square-feet and will employ 8-10 associates that will be hired from the area.
“Our goal is to open stores in communities to help serve the families in that immediate area,” Winburn said.
Family Dollar has more than 7,000 locations in 44 states. In 2011, the retailer caused a stir in Ridgway when a group of citizens called for a national boycott.
It didn’t work. The store was built.
In 2013, Family Dollar was ranked 301st on the Fortune 500 list. It earned $388 million in profits on a total revenue of $8.5 billion.
jmimiaga@the-journal.com