Idyllic town BANS dollar stores amid Dollar General’s push to open more locations in the area

An idyllic Oregon town has banned dollar stores after backlash over the opening of a Dollar General store in the area.

Joseph, located in the Wallowa Mountains in the northeastern part of the state and with a population of just a few thousand, passed legislation last month banning certain types of businesses from operating within city limits.

The law doesn’t name any stores, but it effectively means that chain stores — including dollar stores — are prohibited from operating in the city. Oregon Public Broadcasting reported.

The move follows local campaigns against the opening of a Dollar General store in the nearby city of Wallowa earlier this year.

Residents want to protect local businesses, now that there are rumors that the budget store wants to open more branches in the area.

The law specifically prohibits “formula” companies from operating in Joseph.

A formula business is defined as a retail property that must conform to “prescribed standards and characteristics, particularly as to exterior color schemes, signage, or architectural design.”

Exceptions are made for gas stations, banks and a few other types of businesses, but most chain stores and restaurants are no longer allowed to set up shop in the picturesque town.

Local entrepreneur Erika Polmar co-founded No Dollar General, an action group formed after Tennessee-based Dollar General decided to build its store in nearby Wallowa.

“Dollar Generals have become a symbol of a community in crisis,” the group’s website reads.

‘Their presence signals to other companies that a community does not have enough wealth to invest.

“Dollar General’s low prices and wide selection can drive customers away from local businesses. Smaller, independent retailers can struggle to compete, leading to closures and a decrease in community diversity.”

Two chains – Dollar General and Dollar Tree – operate most of the dollar stores in the country. Dollar Tree owns all of the Family Dollar stores.

While the group was unable to prevent the store from opening in Wallowa, the company is adamant that the business should not be allowed to expand into Joseph or nearby Enterprise.

For Polmar, the legislation is an important victory for the campaign.

“The city of Joseph received a lot of pressure at their most recent planning commission meeting and City Hall was inundated with calls and emails from citizens saying they wanted to make sure the city was protected,” she told Oregon Public Broadcasting

‘Fortunately, the city council and the city government listened and took action very quickly.’

Joseph Mayor Lisa Collier told the Chief of Wallowa County: ‘We want smaller shops, local shops, specialty shops, small family shops.

And Joseph is not the only one fighting against the aggressive expansion of budget chains.

a report Last year, it emerged that at least 75 communities have blocked proposed dollar store development plans since 2019.

At least 50 cities and towns have taken steps to limit the opening of new dollar stores, according to the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, an organization critical of the impact of large-scale retail on local communities.

New research shows that dollar stores can have a greater impact on rural communities like Wallowa County than on urban areas.

When dollar stores open in a rural area, local grocers are three times more likely to close than in an urban area, according to a report earlier this year from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).

“Dollar General is good at targeting low-income communities and communities that are struggling,” Polmar said.

‘Unfortunately, they will get customers, because people are looking for bargains.’