Dollar General launching urban convenience concept

Dollar General on Wednesday announced plans to introduce a new small-format store, tentatively branded DGX, which the company described as a kind of convenience store for urban shoppers seeking foods for immediate consumption.

The first DGX store is slated to begin construction shortly near downtown Nashville, Tenn., and open in early 2017. A second location is planned to open early next year in Raleigh, N.C., the Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based discounter added.

The sales floor will measure 3,400 square feet. (Renderings courtesy of Dollar General)

Dollar General operates more than 13,000 small discount stores in the U.S., although most are in small and suburban markets. The Nashville DGX is locating in a portion of retail space formerly operated as a TGI Friday's restaurant. Los Angeles-based fast casual pizza chain Pizza Rev is taking the remainder of the space, according to local reports.

Dollar General said DGX would also feature items not typically found in quick-trip stores including an assortment of home, electronics and seasonal offerings. Its checkout lane will be geared toward "a high-volume, smaller basket size store with the goal of providing a quick and easy check out for customers," the company said.