WILMINGTON, N.C. — Dollar General Corp. opened its 15,000th store here last month, marking the milestone with a community celebration and donation of $15,000 to five local schools to support literacy and education initiatives. The opening is part of the chain’s aggressive expansion program for 2018, which calls for 900 new store openings, 100 relocations and 1,000 remodels.

“Opening our 15,000th store is a major milestone for Dollar General,” said chief executive officer Todd Vasos, who is a Wilmington native. “Since our humble beginnings in Scottsville, Kentucky, almost 80 years ago, we have become one of the fastest-growing retailers in the U.S., created tens of thousands of jobs and grown into a trusted partner for countless communities in 44 states — including 800 store locations in North ­Carolina.”

The first 500 adult customers to walk through the door were presented with $10 gift cards and tote bags containing a variety of complimentary products. Several Dollar General suppliers also participated by providing giveaways and entertainment. Customers were also treated to breakfast, lunch and a selection of Dollar General’s Clover Valley private brand snack samples.

According to a company spokeswoman, Dollar General first entered the Wilmington market in 1998. “When choosing store locations, there are a number of factors we take into consideration, but the top criteria is always understanding how we can best meet our customers’ needs in the area,” she explained. “Among other things, we take demographic trends, competitive factors, traffic patterns and community feedback into consideration.

“We look for convenient locations and are generally able to serve our customers within a three-to-five mile radius and/or a 10-minute drive.”