Really exciting bill got introduced this week. It makes dollar stores require a conditional use from the zoning board, hopefully enabling us to keep them out of neighborhoods we want grocery stores in instead.
Chicago did a similar kind of ordinance last year, theirs banning new dollar stores within a mile of an existing one. I think this proposal from our city is even stronger - it puts things to a hearing with the zoning board on whether to allow a dollar store, so neighborhoods that don’t want it can say no.
There’s a bunch of outcry about how dollar stores are bad for local economies. There are ultimately a few big chains, charging more per-item for convenience than a big box retailer, but their smaller footprints and capital investment let them spread quicker and will scare off those bigger box stores while also putting locally owned corner stores under.
We have both a Dollar General and a Family Dollar in Southwest right now, half a mile apart, but only one grocery store that required substantial public subsidy to make it happen. We still have some corner convenience stores, but way, way more blighted or even demolished corner commercial shops. And the only big box retail store in the entire city is the singular Target in Canton. The Target at Mondawmin closed long ago, but the Family Dollar is still there next door.
I personally hope this bill passes and we can see the gradual phasing out of a lot of these dollar stores for less predatory businesses, especially locally owned and operated shops.