Dollar General's CEO Envisions New Sites in 11,000 Vacant Locations Due to Competitors' Closures

Dollar General is scaling back its number of new store openings in 2026 compared to this year, but opportunities for expansion still abound. With numerous competitors, especially pharmacies, closing their doors, CEO Todd Vasos believes there is significant room for growth.

The retail giant, currently operating over 20,000 locations, sees potential for thousands more. While the plan for 2026 includes 450 new stores, down from 575 projected for 2025, the strategy doesn't stop there. Vasos hinted at identifying roughly 11,000 potential sites where future Dollar General stores might be established.

During a recent earnings call, a query about the company's growth prospects in the face of closures by competitors like Family Dollar and Rite Aid was addressed. While Dollar General may not occupy every one of those locations, Vasos noted the opportunity to capitalize on sites vacated by rivals.

"It's not feasible to claim every spot," Vasos remarked, acknowledging the analyst's question as indicative of why the company is optimistic about securing many of these locations. "Our competitors aren't launching a lot of new stores," he observed, adding that there is no pressing need to rapidly increase their openings.

Vasos conveyed the company's confidence regarding available locations, saying executives are "very positive" about future prospects. Apart from the conventional store model, Dollar General caters to a diverse clientele with stores suited for fresh produce and urban home decor shopping.

The retailer's third-quarter performance exceeded market expectations, prompting an upward revision of its profit forecast for 2025. The positive trends are reflected in the company's stock, which has surged by 49% this year.