Dollar General to open hundreds of new U.S. stores in 2026

Dollar General announced Thursday that it will open hundreds of new U.S. stores in 2026 as the discount retailer continues to expand its footprint, especially in rural markets.

During the company’s third-quarter 2025 earnings call, the Tennessee-based retailer said it plans to open approximately 450 new stores in the United States, along with about 10 new stores in Mexico, as well as about 20 relocations and remodels of 4,250 stores.

“Our first priority is investing in the business, including our existing store base, as well as other high-return growth opportunities such as new store expansion, remodeling, and other strategic initiatives,” Donnie Lau, Dollar General’s chief financial officer, told investors.

Dollar General is seeing an increase in higher-income shoppers looking to stretch their dollar

The retailer also confirmed its plans for fiscal 2025, which include opening 575 stores in the US, as well as up to 15 new locations in Mexico.

Dollar General raised its annual earnings forecast after beating third-quarter profit estimates on Thursday, as value-seeking shoppers across income levels flock to its stores amid economic uncertainty and the discount retailer controls costs.

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A shopper browses the aisles at a Dollar General store in Queens, New York (Adam Gray/Bloomberg via Getty Images/Getty Images)

The company’s shares rose as much as 12.3% to their highest level in 15 months, and are set to add to their 45% gain this year.

Dollar General and rival Dollar Tree, which raised its annual earnings forecast a day earlier, are benefiting from strong demand for everything from groceries to household goods across income groups, a trend highlighted by retail giant Walmart.

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A customer shops at a Dollar General store in Chicago. (Scott Olson/Getty Images/Getty Images)

During Dollar General’s first-quarter earnings call in June, CEO Todd Vasos told analysts that new customers this year were shopping more often and spending more per visit than new customers last year. They were also allocating more of their spending to discretionary categories.

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“We believe these behaviors indicate that we continue to attract high-income customers who are looking to maximize value while still shopping for items they want and need,” Vassos said at the time.

Reuters’ Daniela Genovese and Fox Business contributed to this report.