History of Dollar General in Timeline

Dollar General Corporation is a prominent American discount store chain with its headquarters situated in Goodlettsville, Tennessee. As of January 8, 2024, the company's operations span across 19,643 stores, encompassing the contiguous United States and Mexico. Dollar General focuses on offering a variety of products at low prices, primarily targeting budget-conscious consumers in smaller communities.

1902: James Turner's Father Dies

In 1902, James Luther "J.L." Turner's father died in an accident when James was only 11 years old.

October 1939: J.L. Turner and Son Opens

In October 1939, James and Cal Turner opened J.L. Turner and Son with an initial investment of $5,000 each.

1939: Company Founded as J.L. Turner and Son

In 1939, the company began in Scottsville, Kentucky, as a family-owned business called J.L. Turner and Son, owned by James Luther Turner and Cal Turner.

1955: First Dollar General Store Opens

In 1955, Cal Turner developed his idea of a retail store selling goods for a dollar, based on the Dollar Days promotions held at other department stores, by converting Turner's Department Store in Springfield, Kentucky, into the first Dollar General Store.

1955: Name Changed to Dollar General Corporation

In 1955, the business name changed to Dollar General Corporation.

1964: J.L. Turner Dies

In 1964, J.L. Turner died, leaving his son Cal Turner to succeed him.

1965: Cal Turner Jr. Joins Dollar General

In 1965, Cal Turner Jr. joined Dollar General.

1968: Dollar General Corporation Goes Public

In 1968, Dollar General Corporation went public, posting annual sales of more than $40 million and net income in excess of $1.5 million.

1977: Cal Turner Jr. Becomes CEO

In 1977, Cal Turner Jr. succeeded his father as CEO of Dollar General.

1989: Cal Turner Sr. Retires and Headquarters Move

In 1989, Cal Turner Sr. retired as chairman and the company headquarters were moved to Tennessee.

1993: Dollar General Literacy Foundation Funding

Since 1993, Dollar General has been funding literacy and education programs through the Dollar General Literacy Foundation, awarding funds to organizations near Dollar General locations.

1997: Distribution Center Established

In 1997 a distribution center was established in South Boston, Virginia.

1999: Fortune 500 Recognition

In 1999, Dollar General was recognized by Fortune 500.

April 2000: Homerville Distribution Center Closed

In April 2000, the distribution center in Homerville, Georgia, was closed, and operations were moved to a new distribution center in Alachua, Florida.

April 30, 2001: Dollar General Financial Settlement and Restatement

On April 30, 2001, Dollar General Corp was found liable for false statements and paid $162 million to settle. The company also announced it would restate earnings for the previous three fiscal years due to accounting irregularities, including fraud allegations.

2002: Cal Jr. Retires

Cal Jr. retired in 2002.

April 2, 2003: David Perdue Succeeds Cal Jr.

On April 2, 2003, David Perdue succeeded Cal Jr. as CEO.

2003: Dollar General Market Established

In 2003, Dollar General entered the grocery market with the establishment of Dollar General Market.

2004: Dollar General Opens Hong Kong Office

In 2004, Dollar General established an office in Hong Kong to manage global sourcing through the import and export of Dollar General-related products.

2004: Sourcing Office Opened in Hong Kong

In 2004, Dollar General expanded to low-cost Asian markets by opening a sourcing office in Hong Kong.

March 3, 2005: Dollar General Restates Results

On March 3, 2005, Dollar General restated its financial results for the years 2000 through 2003 after a clarification on lease-accounting matters issued by the SEC.

June 21, 2007: David Perdue Resigns as CEO

On June 21, 2007, CEO David Perdue announced his resignation, leaving David Bere as interim CEO.

2008: Partnership with Turner

Since 2008, Dollar General and Turner (formerly Braun Racing) have been partnered together.

2008: Dollar General Active in IndyCar Series

Since 2008, Dollar General has been active in the IndyCar Series, serving initially as the primary sponsor for owner/driver Sarah Fisher's Sarah Fisher Racing team.

August 20, 2009: Dollar General Files for IPO

On August 20, 2009, Dollar General filed for an initial public offering of up to $750 million.

2009: OSHA Inspections of Dollar General

Since 2009, OSHA had conducted 72 inspections of Dollar General nationwide, with 39 resulting in citations.

2010: Rexall Products Available at Dollar General

By fall 2010, a full line of Rexall products was available at Dollar General.

2010: Sponsorship in the Truck Series

In 2010, Dollar General sponsored some races in the Truck Series for Kyle Busch Motorsports, with Kyle Busch in the No. 18 Toyota Tundra.

2010: Sponsorship of Fisher and Rahal

In 2010, both Fisher and Graham Rahal drove part-time for the team, finishing 9th at the Honda Grand Prix of St. Petersburg.

2011: Continued Sponsorship of Sarah Fisher Racing

In 2011, Dollar General continued to sponsor Sarah Fisher Racing; the team was still part-time, but Ed Carpenter drove for nines races starting at the 2011 Indianapolis 500.

2012: End of Sponsorship for Sarah Fisher Racing

Dollar General ceased its sponsorship of Sarah Fisher Racing in 2012.

2013: Sponsorship in NASCAR

In 2013, Dollar General sponsored Brian Vickers in the Nationwide Series and became a primary sponsor for Matt Kenseth in the Sprint Cup Series.

2013: Dollar General started selling cigarettes

In 2013, Dollar General started selling cigarettes in response to its competitor Family Dollar selling cigarettes in 2012.

May 31, 2014: 12th Distribution Center Opened

On May 31, 2014, Dollar General's 12th distribution center opened in Bethel, Pennsylvania, to serve the Northeast and Midwest stores.

August 18, 2014: Dollar General Bids for Family Dollar

On August 18, 2014, Dollar General lodged a competing bid of $9.7 billion against Dollar Tree for Family Dollar.

August 20, 2014: Family Dollar Rejects Dollar General Bid

On August 20, 2014, the Family Dollar board rejected Dollar General's bid, stating it would proceed with the deal with Dollar Tree.

November 2014: Dollar General Fined by OSHA

In November 2014, Dollar General faced a $51,700 fine from OSHA after an inspection at a Brooklyn, Mississippi, store revealed repeated health and safety violations.

2014: Sponsorship of Kyle Busch's Motorsports

In 2014, Dollar General sponsored Kyle Busch's Motorsports No. 51 Toyota Tundra for four races.

June 3, 2015: Todd Vasos Replaces Rick Dreiling as CEO

On June 3, 2015, Chief Operating Officer Todd Vasos replaced Rick Dreiling as chief executive.

September 2015: Distribution Center Approved in Janesville, Wisconsin

In September 2015, the City Council in Janesville, Wisconsin, approved an agreement to bring a Dollar General distribution center to the town.

January 2016: Rick Dreiling Retires

In January 2016, Rick Dreiling retired as senior advisor and chairman.

April 2016: Dollar General Receives Further OSHA Citations

In April 2016, OSHA issued additional citations to Dollar General for exposing employees to electrical hazards and fined the store $107,620.

May 23, 2016: Dollar General to Withdraw from NASCAR Sponsorship

On May 23, 2016, Dollar General announced it would withdraw its sponsorship from NASCAR at the end of the 2016 season.

June 6, 2016: 13th Distribution Center Opens in San Antonio

On June 6, 2016, Dollar General's 13th distribution center opened in San Antonio, Texas.

August 2016: Dollar General Operates 13,000 Stores

As of August 2016, Dollar General operated 13,000 stores.

August 17, 2016: Dollar General Bowl Sponsorship

On August 17, 2016, Dollar General became the sponsor of the Dollar General Bowl, formerly the GoDaddy Bowl, in Mobile, Alabama.

September 15, 2016: Dollar General Announces Hiring and Store Expansion Plans

On September 15, 2016, Dollar General announced plans to hire 10,000 new employees and open 900 new stores in fiscal 2016 and 1,000 in fiscal 2017.

December 2016: Dollar General Fined for Blocked Fire Exits

In December 2016, OSHA noted that some Dollar General stores continued to block fire exits with merchandise, leading to further fines for safety violations.

January 2017: First DGX Concept Store Opened

In January 2017, Dollar General opened a concept store in Nashville, Tennessee, called DGX.

2017: Distribution Center Opened in Jackson, Georgia

In 2017, Dollar General opened its 15th distribution center in Jackson, Georgia, and began construction on its 16th distribution center in Amsterdam, New York.

2017: Dollar General Expands to New States

Since 2017, Dollar General has expanded its presence by opening stores in North Dakota, Wyoming, and Washington.

October 2018: Hurricane Michael

The Dollar General Store in Panama City, Florida sustained damage from Hurricane Michael in October 2018.

2018: Dollar General Planned to Open 900 New Stores

Dollar General planned to open 900 new stores in 2018.

2018: "Better for You" Assortment

In 2018, Dollar General expanded its product offerings to include the "Better for You" assortment, which aims to offer healthier options from brands like Kashi, Annie's, Back to Nature, and Kind.

2018: Dollar General Literacy Foundation 25th Anniversary

The Dollar General Literacy Foundation celebrated its 25th anniversary in 2018.

February 2019: Study on Fruit and Vegetable Quality at Dollar Stores

In February 2019, a study by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, found that fruits and vegetables at dollar stores are comparable in quality to those at regular grocery stores.

May 2019: Dollar General Withdrew Bowl Sponsorship

In May 2019, Dollar General withdrew its title sponsorship of the Mobile bowl game.

September 2019: Dollar General Celebrated Opening of 16,000th Store

In September 2019, Dollar General celebrated the grand opening of its 16,000th store in Panama City, Florida.

December 5, 2019: Plans for 2020 Announced

On December 5, 2019, Dollar General announced plans for fiscal 2020, including opening 1,000 new stores, remodeling 1,500 stores, and relocating 80 stores.

2019: Produce Assortments Offered in Stores

By the end of its 2019 fiscal year, Dollar General offered its produce assortments in more than 650 stores.

2019: Dollar General Fined for Pricing Issues in Vermont

In 2019, Dollar General was fined $1.75 million by Vermont for charging higher prices at the register than advertised on the shelf.

2019: Revenue Reaches $27 Billion

In 2019, Dollar General's revenue reached approximately $27 billion.

2019: Distribution Center Became Operational

In 2019, the distribution center in Amsterdam, New York, became fully operational.

February 2020: 8,000 New Career Opportunities

In February 2020, Dollar General announced plans to create 8,000 net new career opportunities in fiscal year 2020.

March 2020: Dollar General Expands Produce Offering

In March 2020, Dollar General announced plans to offer produce in approximately 400 additional stores during its 2020 fiscal year, adding to the existing 650 stores.

May 2020: 12 DGX Locations Operated

As of May 2020, Dollar General operated 12 DGX locations in nine states.

May 2020: Dollar General Stores Damaged During Riots

In late May 2020, two Dollar General stores were destroyed by arson during the George Floyd riots in Minneapolis–Saint Paul, and three others had property damage.

October 2020: First pOpshelf Stores Opened

In October 2020, Dollar General opened its first pOpshelf stores in Hendersonville and Clarksville, Tennessee, selling mostly items costing less than $5.

2020: Dollar General Reaches #112 on Fortune 500 list

In 2020, Dollar General reached #112 on the Fortune 500 list.

2020: Dollar General Literacy Foundation Awards Grants

In 2020, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation made its largest one-day grant announcement, awarding $8.6 million to approximately 970 organizations.

April 2021: Planned Hiring of 20,000 Employees

In April 2021, the company said it was planning to hire 20,000 employees, less than the number hired in 2020.

December 2021: OSHA Proposes Penalties for Safety Hazards at Dollar General

In December 2021, an inspection at a Dollar General location in Mobile led to proposed penalties of $321,827 for exposing workers to slip and trip hazards and not maintaining an orderly storeroom for safe emergency exits.

2021: Planned pOpshelf Expansion

By the end of 2021, the company planned 50 free-standing pOpshelf locations and 25 store-within-a-store locations inside Dollar General Market stores.

2021: Fines for Price Irregularities

Dollar General faced fines for price irregularities during 2021.

2021: Partnership With Arbor Day Foundation

Since 2021, Dollar General has partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to restore forests and plant trees near the Mississippi River.

February 2022: OSHA Identifies Violations at Dollar General Stores

In February 2022, inspections at Dollar General stores in Pembroke, Mobile, and Dalton identified numerous violations, including unsafe storage practices and blocked exits, leading to proposed penalties of over $1 million.

March 2022: First Store Opened in Idaho

On 5 March 2022, Dollar General opened its first store in the state of Idaho, located in Athol.

April 2022: Dollar General Literacy Foundation Announces Commitment to Literacy

In April 2022, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation committed approximately $9.2 million to support literacy, with $8.2 million for family literacy programs and $1 million for the DonorsChoose program.

2022: Fines for Price Irregularities

Dollar General faced fines for price irregularities during 2022.

2022: Lawsuit for Deceptive Pricing

During 2022, the State of Ohio brought a lawsuit against Dollar General for deceptive pricing practices.

March 2023: Dollar General Added to OSHA's Severe-Violator Enforcement Program

In March 2023, Dollar General was added to OSHA's severe-violator enforcement program.

March 2023: Dollar General Fined for Pricing Irregularities

In March 2023, an article reported that North Carolina, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Arizona had fined Dollar General over $1 million for pricing irregularities during 2021 and 2022, and the company faced potential class-action lawsuits.

October 2023: Todd Vasos Returns as CEO

On 12 October 2023, Dollar General announced the return of former CEO Todd Vasos, who replaced Jeff Owen.

January 8, 2024: Dollar General operates 19,643 stores

As of January 8, 2024, Dollar General operated 19,643 stores in the contiguous United States and Mexico.

June 2024: Dollar General Board of Directors

As of June 2024, the Dollar General Board of Directors are: Michael M. Calbert (Chairman of the Board), Todd Vasos (CEO), Warren Bryant, Patricia Fili-Krushel, Timothy I. McGuire, Ana Chadwick, David Rowland, Debra A. Sandler, and Ralph E. Santana.

October 2024: pOpshelf Stores Inside DG Market to Be Removed

In October 2024, it was announced that there are plans for all pOpshelf stores inside DG Market stores to be removed.

2024: Sustainability Initiatives Implemented

As of 2024, Dollar General has implemented several sustainability initiatives, including partnering with the Arbor Day Foundation and aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

2024: Dollar General Shuts Down Self-Checkout in Many Stores

In the first half of 2024, Dollar General removed self-checkout lanes in over half of its US stores due to theft-related losses.

2025: Dollar General Nears Nationwide Presence

As of early 2025, Dollar General stores are present in 48 states, the District of Columbia, and Mexico, with only Alaska and Hawaii lacking locations.