Two Dollar General stores separated by a mile popped up in my hometown in northern California, a place that can barely support two of any stores even grocery stores. Dollar General stores are expensive and nearly always empty. When I lived in the south eight years ago, Dollar General stores were expensive and empty too. I would not be surprised at some point if the economics of their expansion didn't make sense.

As someone else mentioned, Dollar Tree is different. There is a Dollar Tree that is always packed next to an empty Dollar General in my hometown. Dollar Tree is a deep discount store. Dollar General is a convenience store without gas.