Wellman Dollar General now open for business

Wellman area residents now have a new option for their shopping.

On Feb. 10, the area's newest Dollar General store, located at 500 First Ave. on the east side of the city, opened in Wellman.

'We hope it keeps people shopping locally,” Wellman City Administrator Kelly Litwiller said. 'This gives people a chance to not have to go out of town to do their shopping.”

She said she expects that having the new store in town will help increase the city's local-option sales tax collections.

'We will also see an increase in commercial property tax revenue,” Litwiller said.

She acknowledged that there has been some concern in the community that the new Dollar General may take away some business from the city's lone grocery store, Freeman Foods in downtown Wellman.

'I believe that their sales are different,” Litwiller said. 'I believe our town can hold both of them.”

Freeman Foods Manager Brenda Reasor said that she is not overly concerned.

'We haven't seen any decline since they opened,” Reasor said. 'I'm confident people in the community will still support us.”

She added that Freeman Foods offers several things that shoppers will not find at Dollar General, including fresh meat and fresh produce.

'We offer more than Dollar General,” she said. 'And we offer great customer service.”

A news release from Dollar General said that the store is expected to employ from six to 10 people, depending on the need.

The opening of the Wellman Dollar General extends the company's string of stores along the Highway 22 corridor.

Last year, they opened a store in Riverside, adding to stores already in Lone Tree and Kalona.

'With approximately 75 percent of the American population within five miles of a Dollar General, the company is committed to remaining open and in-stock to provide customers and communities with an affordable and convenient retail option during these unprecedented times,” the company's news release said.

Attempts by The Union to get more specific information from the company about the Wellman store were unsuccessful.