Dollar General Pencils In 2012 for Calif. Expansion

GOODLETTSVILLE, Tenn. -- Dollar General will be putting down stakes in California in 2012. The move comes after the locally headquartered company successfully expanded in other western states, such as Arizona and Colorado, in the past few years.

"Our California stores will mark a significant milestone for Dollar General, giving us a coast-to-coast presence for the first time," said Rick Dreiling, chairman and CEO. "Our team is excited about carrying our mission westward and delivering value and convenience, our hallmarks for over 70 years, to new customers."

Dollar General has been a dominant retail force in the southern United States. Moving beyond its home turf, the company has been on a fast track to grow its footprint, sometimes opening two or three stores a day, according to a news release. As for store count, Dollar General nearly doubled in size during the past decade, growing from 5,000 stores in 2000 to more than 9,500 stores today.

California will be the 39th state where Dollar General will have a presence. It follows planned expansions into three new states this year: Connecticut, Nevada and New Hampshire.