Some South Charleston residents are concerned it will take customers away from downtown district.
Monday, September 03, 2007
SOUTH CHARLESTON — A nearly completed Dollar General store here draws mixed reactions from village residents, with some concerned about how it will affect local businesses.
The village wants more businesses to invest in South Charleston, but not at the expense of the downtown economy, said Village Manager Sarah Wildman.
Some residents, like Taffy Kelly, don't see Dollar General hurting local shops.
"I'm just tickled about it," she said. "I would shop there. ... I don't think we really have a place here to go for smaller things."
But just the location of the store is an issue for Karl Loveless, a South Charleston Web developer.
"It's a competitor that's breaking up the downtown shopping district," Loveless said of the store, adding that while he doesn't mind competition, he doesn't want shoppers distracted from the village's main business area.
However, the property the store sits on is zoned for commercial use, former resident Sam McAdow pointed out. McAdow sold his land to investors to build it.
"There are good people in South Charleston who never want change," he said. "And there are good people who want convenience. The city has to balance them both."
Since July 2006, construction of the 9,014-square-foot store has been in the works, Wildman said.
Contractors said the store will be finished in about three weeks, although they could not say when it will open.
