A new chapter in Highlands’ retail sector began on Saturday when Dollar General opened its doors at 28 Cherrywood Drive.
The new location, approximately halfway between Highlands and Cashiers, is the first major retail chain to move into the Highlands market. The store fills a gap between locations in Sapphire and Scaly Mountain, according to Dollar General representative Angela Petkovic.
“We are excited that our newest store opened over the weekend,” Petkovic said in a written statement. “We encourage everyone to find more information about the new location on the Dollar General mobile app, which includes store hours and weekly digital coupons.”
Petkovic added that the store opened without much fanfare due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. There are no plans for a grand opening celebration due to COVID-19 regulations.
Inside the store Petkovic noted that Highlands’ location will feature a few amenities that aren’t found at every Dollar General store, including fresh produce.
“The new store in Highlands will also provide customers with stylish, on-trend home décor and a party preparation section,” Petkovic said. “The store will of course feature the same categories of products and name brands that our customers have come to expect from our other locations.”
The store will employ 6-10 people and offers competitive pay, health insurance, telemedicine service, 401K and tuition reimbursement. Interested candidates can review and apply for available positions at www.careerarc.com/job-map/dollar-general-corporation/campaign/45977.
Dollar General, headquartered in Goodlettsville, Tennessee, operates 16,287 stores across the United States. The new location is the company’s eighth store in Macon County. Petkovic noted that 75 percent of all Americans live within five miles of a Dollar General store.
Aside from its retail stores, Dollar General is known for its willingness to be a community partner through the company’s literacy initiative, according to Petkovic.
Since its inception in 1993, the Dollar General Literacy Foundation has awarded more than $186 million in grants to nonprofit organizations, and helped more than 12 million individuals take their first steps toward literacy and/or continued education. For more information about the Dollar General Literacy Foundation and its grant programs, visit www.dgliteracy.com.