A former Walgreens building in Fort Fairfield is set to become a new Dollar General store.
Calito Development Group, a property development company from Torrington, Connecticut, specializing in projects for big retail chains, announced on Monday that they are preparing the site for Dollar General.
Dollar General Confirms New Store in Fort Fairfield
On Monday, Dollar General's public relations team verified that they are close to completing their initial planning for a new store in Fort Fairfield, Maine, on Main Street.
In an email, an unnamed spokesperson from the company shared, "We are in the final stages of our preliminary assessment for the new Dollar General in Fort Fairfield, ME, which is planned for Main Street."
The company anticipates starting the next step of the project soon. The spokesperson also mentioned that the store is expected to create jobs for about six to ten people.
The official career website of the discount store chain now includes Fort Fairfield in its job search locations, suggesting employment opportunities in the area.
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Fort Fairfield Awaits Official Documentation for New Dollar General Store
Tony Levesque, the town's Tax Assessor, stated that Fort Fairfield has yet to receive official documents like a deed, lease, or mortgage regarding the new Dollar General store.
Activity was observed inside the building on Monday afternoon, indicating preparations are underway.
The location, previously a Rite Aid, was transformed into a Walgreens in 2018 following Walgreens Boots Alliance's acquisition of Rite Aid assets. This deal included over 2,000 stores across various towns, such as Caribou, Fort Kent, Houlton, Presque Isle, Van Buren, and Madawaska.
The Fort Fairfield Walgreens shut its doors in February 2023 and has remained vacant. Dollar General, already present in Aroostook County with stores in Van Buren, Caribou, Limestone, and Washburn, is set to add Fort Fairfield to its locations.
Reed City Debates New Dollar General Store
In another news about Dollar General, a large turnout at a Reed City planning commission meeting on February 5th led to a change of venue to the adjacent fire hall.
The gathering was driven by residents' strong objections to the proposed construction of a new Dollar General store on South Chestnut Avenue.
The meeting included a public hearing about rezoning two lots near the Dairy Depot for the store's development. Community members voiced concerns about potential traffic increases, the impact on property values, and the significance of the Dairy Depot and local housing needs.
Kathy Fiebig highlighted the city's Master Plan, emphasizing residential development and expansion of commercial areas, mainly in the central business district.
Moreover, Residents in Sampson County's southern area oppose a new Dollar General store proposed as their neighbor. During a recent public hearing, the Sampson County Board of Commissioners postponed a decision on the development company's rezoning request.
Rhetson Companies, Inc. proposed to convert two parcels at Wright Bridge Road and Garland Highway from residential agricultural to commercial for the store.
The Sampson County Planning Board had earlier approved this rezoning, aligning it with the county's land use plan. County staff also recommended approval, but the decision has been delayed due to public concerns.
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