In the years since the pandemic, the retail industry has really struggled. And we’ve seen a number of popular names in the retail space close stores and/or file for bankruptcy.
Some of those closures have hit hard.
Late last year, Party City began winding down operations after filing for Chapter 11 for a second time in December. Shortly thereafter, fabrics giant Joann filed for bankruptcy and proceeded to close hundreds of stores.
Related: Costco has a great offer for drivers
But if there’s one retailer that seems to be doing okay in today’s uncertain economy, it’s Dollar General.
Although the company has struggled in recent years, Dollar General’s most recent earnings report had many glimmers of hope.
The company enjoyed a 2.4% increase in same-store sales during its past quarter. And while foot traffic declined slightly, on a per-customer basis, the average purchase increased.
Put another way, it may be that fewer people are shopping at Dollar General. But the people who are shopping there are spending more.
Dollar General makes a change to address a customer pain point
As of July 2025, Dollar General had an impressive U.S. store count of almost 20,500 locations, according to ScrapeHero. The company has a presence in 48 states, and almost 1,900 locations in Texas alone.
Despite its huge store footprint, not everyone has easy access to Dollar General. And the reason boils down to the fact that in today’s economy, not everyone can afford to own a car.
Related: Home Depot makes bold move to replace bankrupt retailer
Not only have prices soared for new and used vehicles in recent years, but elevated interest rates have made financing a car prohibitively expensive for lower-income families. And in suburban and rural areas, if you don’t have a car, you probably can’t do much shopping.
Dollar General is trying to solve that problem, though. The company recently entered into a partnership with Uber that will bring more than 14,000 Dollar General locations onto the Uber Eats platform.
Customers who don’t have access to a vehicle can order a wide assortment of Dollar General goods to be delivered to their homes, from groceries to household items.
“Our customers will enjoy even greater convenience through our Uber Eats partnership,” said Tony Rogers, Dollar General’s chief marketing officer. “Providing communities with affordable, fresh, and accessible food options delivered right to their front door is aligned with our mission of Serving Others.”
Will Dollar General’s latest move help it or hurt it?
Dollar General, as the name implies, likes to bill itself as a discount store. But many would argue it’s actually not.
One criticism customers tend to have is that the store may offer lower prices than competing retailers, but in exchange, its items are smaller in size or quantity.
Related: Bath & Body Works makes bold move to target younger customers
Put another way, you might pay $3 for a package of sliced turkey at Dollar General, compared to $3.49 at your local supermarket. But if you’re only getting eight slices at Dollar General versus 12 slices at your regular grocery store, then you’re not actually getting a deal.
Another issue is that while Dollar General claims to be a business that serves communities, it’s hard to overlook the fact that the chain has driven countless local stores out of business.
The company has also been accused of contributing to food deserts, where people in remote parts of the country lack access to fresh, affordable groceries.
Partnering with Uber to make its products more accessible is a smart move on Dollar General’s part in theory. The problem is that the store’s clientele, by nature, tends to be budget-conscious.
It’s people in that very boat who can’t necessarily afford to spring for Uber Eats, thereby negating the value of the chain’s latest offering.
More Retail:
- Walmart CEO sounds alarm on a big problem for customers
- Target makes a change that might scare Walmart, Costco
- Top investor takes firm stance on troubled retail brand
- Walmart and Costco making major change affecting all customers
Of course, the big win with Dollar General’s latest move is gaining customers without vehicle access who may have otherwise turned to competitors like Walmart to get essentials and groceries delivered. But whether this new partnership will really drive sales is still up in the air.
Related: Costco members need to watch out for this expensive mistake
