Here’s a remarkable fact: Dollar stores are now feeding more Americans than Whole Foods is – even though most dollar stores have no fresh food, only a limited selection of packaged items. 1/ 
My colleague @mlynndonahue just published a terrific in-depth look at the rapid growth of dollar stores and the impact they’re having. Here’s a quick look at her findings. 2/
ilsr.org/dollar-stores-…
ilsr.org/dollar-stores-…
@mlynndonahue Dollar stores are multiplying at breakneck speed. Since 2011, the two dominant chains — Dollar General & Dollar Tree (which owns Family Dollar) have grown from 20k to 30k locations. And they say they have identified an additional 20,000 locations. 3/
@mlynndonahue Dollar stores now outnumber Walmart and McDonalds locations combined. 4/
@mlynndonahue There’s growing evidence that dollar chains are not merely a byproduct of economic distress. They’re causing it. 5/
@mlynndonahue Dollar General is now by far the biggest threat to local grocery stores. In small towns, Dollar General’s arrival typically causes sales at the local supermarket to drop 30%. That’s enough to put them in the red, and force them to close, though it may take a year or more. 6/
@mlynndonahue In cities, dollar stores are targeting African American neighborhoods and they are opening at a density that makes it impossible for new grocers and other local business to take root and grow. 7/
@mlynndonahue In North Tulsa, there are no grocery stores for miles and miles. But there are lots of dollar stores. Tulsa is home to more than 50 dollar stores. Their locations correlate more with race than income. 8/
@mlynndonahue The parallel between rural towns & urban black neighborhoods suggests that our real divide is not so much rural vs urban. It’s between a few metros benefitting from corporate concentration & the many other cities and regions being left behind. 9/
@mlynndonahue Some places are starting to fight back. This year, with policy guidance from @ilsr, Tulsa City Councilor Vanessa Hall-Harper passed the first ordinance in the country to specifically target dollar stores. /10
@mlynndonahue @ilsr Other cities are now looking to do the same. Read all about it in @mlynndonahue’s article & related fact sheet on dollar stores! 11/11 ilsr.org/dollar-stores-…
