Featured image: DG Market located outside the gates on the east side of HSV. According to Board Director Mark Quinton, the DG Market proposed inside the gates will be a brick building.
There have been a lot of questions and some controversy over a new DG Market proposed to be built inside the “sanctity” of the Hot Springs Village gates. The flow of the conversation ranges greatly from total disagreement where it has been suggested to boycott the new store, to numerous statements supporting DG Market inside the Village gates. Much of the conversation seems to be that for the first time in many years, the east side is finally being served with a grocery store.
Is there a difference between DG Market and Dollar General stores?
Some of the controversy over the proposed DG Market seems to be around some confusion as to whether DG Market and Dollar General stores are the same. They are not the same.
In the words of Krazy Coupon Lady:
“Dollar General Markets are almost exactly like your regular Dollar General store, except for the fact that they’re twice the size and have a selection of fresh items like these:
- Produce
- Meat
- Dairy products
- Perishable foods”
“You’ll also find a decent-sized frozen section inside DG Markets.”
“The Market locations are about half the square footage of a typical grocery store, so they don’t offer quite as large of a selection. But they do bring fresh food items to neighborhoods that may not otherwise have access.”
Business Insider explained, “Dollar General operates about 19,000 stores in the US, 2,700 of which focus on fresh groceries. DG Markets stock produce, meat, and other foods that aren’t typically found in dollar stores.”
According to Andrea, content creator, and owner of the YouTube channel, Foodamentary: Adventures in Food, “If you’re not familiar with DG Market, it is Dollar General’s answer to a grocery store – so it’s half grocery store and half Dollar General… It’s kind of like a [smaller] super Walmart wrapped in one.”
DG Market: Dollar Generals Grocery Store / Fill-in Haul / My First Visit!”
In the words of the retailer, “Dollar General Market and DG Market formats offer expanded produce, refrigerated and frozen food offerings, dairy products, and more, in addition to an assortment of fresh meats, alongside the general merchandise customers trust Dollar General to provide.”
Our experience at the DG Market located outside HSV gates
Joe and I wandered over to check out the newly-opened DG Market located outside the gates on the east side of HSV (located between the Balboa Gate exit and the Danville Gate exit on Highway 5.) As expected for a new store, the merchandise was attractively displayed in an orderly and clean environment. You will not find the variety of options in a larger grocery store, but there are still many choices. The produce section was not stocked, but I assume this is because the store is new and the produce was not delivered. There was a variety of fresh and also processed meats, frozen foods, and dairy. Much of the offerings were the normal grocery store choices, but there did not appear to be “health foods” available. (Vitamins / supplements are available.) Possibly we missed the “health foods” section.
What brands can we expect to be stocked in the proposed DG Market?
Some of the brands available, but not limited to were Clorox, Energizer, Procter & Gamble, Hanes, Coca-Cola, Mars, Unilever, Nestle, Kimberly-Clark, Kellogg’s, General Mills, and PepsiCo. The store also offered brands which are unfamiliar to us. One brand that stood out was Clover Valley, a Dollar General private label brand, which features a selection of sauces, snacks, sides. condiments, entrees, and more.
Does the POA have any control over the businesses in the Village?
The POA has limited control over the types of businesses allowed to operate inside the Village but retains control of the property aesthetics. This aesthetic control is maintained through the Architectural Control Committee (ACC), Permitting and Inspections Department (P & I), and the Community Support Department (CS).
The ACC and the P&I are tasked with oversight of the initial build and landscaping. Anyone desiring to build inside the Village gates must submit a building permit, which is closely scrutinized by the ACC and P&I Department. The two entities also oversee the building process.
Community Support is in charge of ensuring all properties (residential and commercial) are maintained per the community standards outlined in the governing documents.
Additionally, the POA never owned the property where the DG Market is proposed to be located. The POA has no authority over who buys commercial or private property in the Village.
Will the DG Market serve those who are not inside the gates?
According to the Hot Springs Village Board of Directors, DG Market will not advertise to non-villagers and they have been told they must rely on customers located inside the gates.
Should we give DG Market a chance?
This is entirely up to the individual. Villagers have complained for years about the lack of grocery options on the East side of the Village. Is DG Market the answer to this dilemma? This question is yet to be answered and depends on the actions and service of the retailer and the community support it receives. Of course, the proposed DG Market is unlikely to be supported if the service and goods are not up to par. Time will tell.
For purposes of disclosure, I should be forthcoming and disclose that I am not a Dollar General or DG Market shopper. I am not loyal to the brands, but that is not to say I haven’t occasionally shopped in Dollar General. As far as a DG Market, I have not set foot inside one until yesterday. Most of the research for this article was conducted online.
We encourage polite debate and commenting. Please let us know what you think. Will you give the DG Market a chance?
To view images without captions, please click on the image.
By Cheryl Dowden; Photography by Joe Dowden
Has a traffic study been made by DG or the POA on traffic flow at the new facility location? Will there be stop signs/signals installed or a round about constructed? If a round about, who will be financially responsible for the round about construction, signals and upkeep?
I also look forward to having a market, even if small, and will support it. The DG Markets have been around for several years now and are more of a convenience store than a “supermarket”. It will be nice to be able to stop for items needed on the way home from the golf course, hope the parking lot will be big enough to accommodate my Jeep and golf cart trailer! Perhaps a “drive through”? Just kidding…
I agree with Sheri Smith. I can’t wait for the DG Market to open. We are in a waste land as far as shopping is concerned here on the east side. When I moved here we did have a grocery store right outside the east gate. But, their produce was not up to par and many items on their shelves were out of date or about to expire. Most of us used it as a convenience store not a full grocery store. When they closed their doors our nearest grocery store was 25 minutes away. Hopefully, the new DG Market will have decent produce and most used grocery items. I will frequent it often.
Cheryl, Thank you for this great information!!
If this store doesn’t survive here, will they do demolition or leave us with a building we will not be able to utilize, and it will become an eye sore that the people against it will be able to say, “I TOLD YOU SO.”??????? The east enders “KNEW” there was not any grocery and or restaurants in the area. But they decided to reside there anyway. People wanted the pool, how much have we made there since it was built ?? Are the Village restaurants making a “large” profit (???) the watering holes outside the West Gate are, one actually had to enlarge to handle the flow. Has anyone checked the quality of meat since medio cure won’t make it around here. People better know what they are asking for or we are going to have a very LARGE boat anchor. Remember…we fought against the “Village Center” that was proposed just a few years ago. I for sure will be one again picketing!!!
Dave, thanks for commenting. I do remember fighting against the Village Center. The reason we fought against the New Urban type Village Center was because the POA wanted to be the developer and we were also against New Urbanism in the Village because the Village is not a walkable environment due to the mountainous topography. The Village Center was part of a much larger plan to turn the Village into a New Urban town. The proposed DG Market will be developed by DG not the POA. Hence, the difference between the two concepts. – Cheryl Dowden
The first sentience was DG Market is exactly like a regular DG, only with a little more meat and produce. Further down it says the produce area was not well stocked (due to being new?). Most new stores are at their very best upon opening
Please no DG Market inside the Village. Keep it outside the gates so the DG loyalists can be happy. Inside the gate will fail and we will be stuck with a vacant building.
No comment right now. Wanted to subscribe without commenting, but apparently can’t.
Hi Vicki. Thanks for commenting. Subscribing is not related to commenting. We no longer offer a subscription service. Thanks again.
East side has sorely lacked the availability of a grocery for several years. I am totally for it. I’m sure I won’t buy my bi-weekly groceries there, but it will be a great convenience for perishables, such as fruits and vegetables, eggs, and bread. Along with frozen dairy and items which ran out early. In addition you have the other items you might have a need arise such as batteries and paper items.
It sure beats driving 40-45 minutes to pick up these items.
I don’t believe we a DG inside the village, when we have one just outside. Don’t need outsiders coming in.
The dump outside the east gate IS NOT a DG Market. It’s not even really a legitimate Dollar General, since it only occupies a small end space in a run-down strip center. “Outsiders” will go to the new DG market down past the Balboa Gate. The other “outsiders” that come into the Village every. single. day. to do work here (plumbers, electricians, roofers, builders, lawn care, carpeting, painters, etc.), will be able to patronize the new market to save time not having to leave the Village to find a place to get food or a drink during the work day. This is a huge addition to a Village of 15,000 people, and I will wholeheartedly support it.
Sheri, thanks for commenting. I am a little confused. I do not think we are talking about the same business. The DG Market that we visited does NOT occupy a small end space of a run-down strip center. The DG Market I speak of occupies a free-standing building.
Hi Cheryl, I was responding to Bob, who said we “don’t need a DG inside the Village; there’s one just outside. Don’t need outsiders coming in.” The new DG Market past the Balboa gate is representative of what the new DG Market in the Village will be like, except that ours will be a brick building, which I’m ecstatic about. I can’t wait to be able to leave my house and drive a couple of miles down DeSoto Blvd. to a beautiful new Market in the Village to get some groceries, and not have to go 3 miles to get out the east gate and then travel on Highway 5 for 4-5 more miles to the rural DG Market. It’s gonna be awesome! Thanks for the article and thanks to Jeff Hollingsworth for making this happen!!
Sheri, thank you for the clarification.
There will be no attempt by the gate personnel to prevent anyone from going thru the gates to shop at the store. History has shown anyone who wants to eat at the restaurants, go to the churches, or to any other businesses in The Village are allowed to enter without restrictions.
Excellent article, objective and very thoughtful. I think we ought to give the DG Market a chance to serve the Village. We’ve been hoping for a store to serve the east side. Perhaps the preconceived stigma and blemish attributed to DG Markets by association can be put to rest by Village patrons and employees. I believe we can navigate through a relatively short strip of DeSoto with less trees and even a busy intersection with some heads-up driving.
Thank you, Jeff!
The DG market inside the gate will be brick. The picture is not an accurate depiction of it. The ACC has been very diligent about the aesthetics
Mark, thank you for the clarification. The picture is identified as the DG Market outside the gates.