NASHVILLE — Dollar General Corp. will pilot small-format stores early next year, here and in Raleigh, N.C.

The 3,400-square-foot stores will target time-pressed urban shoppers with everyday-low prices on staples. The outlets will also have a soda fountain, coffee brewing station and sandwiches. The coffee station, a new offering for Dollar General, will be called the Daily Grind.

Other products will include groceries, pet supplies, candy, snacks, paper products, home cleaning supplies, and health and beauty aids. The units are also expected to have a limited assortment of home, electronics and seasonal offerings not typically found in convenience stores. And a checkout lane geared toward high-volume, smaller basket size products will have the goal of making checkout quick and easy.

The Nashville store will be easily accessible from the city’s West End and will be within walking distance of Vanderbilt University, hotels, new residential developments and hospitals.
“It is a very attractive location for this store,” a Dollar General spokesman told The Tennesseean newspaper.

In order to provide its customers with additional convenience, 13,000-outlet Dollar General recently extended permanent store hours for selected units across 43 states.

The chain kicked off the holiday sales season with specials from November 20 through November 23. Discounts were offered on Thanksgiving meal products, holiday decorations, electronics and gaming consoles. An instant $10 savings was offered on two gift card purchases. Offers also included a limited buy-one-get-a-second-at-75%-off deal on toys, as well as specials on holiday and home decor, Toastmaster slow cookers and digital coffee makers, “As Seen on TV” products, multipack dining gift cards, apparel, paper products, and food.