Dollar General plans to add stores

Discount-store operator Dollar General Corp. said it plans toopen 625 new stores and hire more than 6,000 workers in 2011.

The company said Monday the store openings will be in 35 statesit currently operates in as well as in three new states:Connecticut, Nevada and New Hampshire. It also plans to remodel orrelocate 550 stores.

Dollar General spokesman Mike Machak said the company currentlyoperates more than 161 stores in West Virginia.

"We're not releasing information about the number of new storesopening in any states or cities," he said. "In general, given 6,000new jobs are being created in 2011, it will be spread across thestates we serve."

Machak said 11 stores undergoing a remodel or on schedule forremodeling in 2011 are in West Virginia. They are in Charles Town,Craigsville, Elkins, Gilbert, Glen Daniel, Grantsville, Keyser,Petersburg, Ronceverte, Wellsburg and Weston.

Dollar General, based in Goodlettsville, Tenn., currentlyoperates 9,200 stores and employs 88,000 people.

Its stores have gained market share from competitors such as Wal-Mart Stores Inc., as consumers count pennies because of highunemployment and the uncertain economy.