TUTWILER — The Dollar General store here, closed since an April 11 fire, is set to reopen soon, according to company and town officials.
The discount chain's outlet, located at 220 Highway 49, suffered extensive fire, water and smoke damage as a result of the blaze, which investigators said was deliberately set.
The store did not have to be razed, however. In recent months, contractors have been observed repairing and/or replacing components both inside and outside the metal building.
Dollar General Corporation Public Relations, in a Nov. 16 email response to a Sun-Sentinel query, said the store “is slated to open within the next month, but ... construction progress may alter this date.”
Tutwiler Mayor Nichole Harris-Rosebud said Nov. 17 that she is “very excited” that the reopening is near.
“We’ve been looking forward to being able to have the store back open so our citizens won’t have to travel so far to get the supplies they need,” she noted.
Dollar General operates the largest general merchandise store in Tutwiler.
“I’m just ecstatic about the store opening back and the great things that Dollar General brings to our community,” the mayor added. “I really appreciate them.”
The company’s email noted that the revamped store would feature “a fresher layout with approximately 7,200 square feet of selling space.”
One notable change will be the introduction of a produce section, offering an assortment of items including lettuce, tomatoes, onions, apples, strawberries, potatoes, sweet potatoes, lemons, limes, salad mixes and more, noted the company’s email.
“Dollar General’s produce set offers the top 20 items typically sold in traditional grocery stores and covers approximately 80% of produce categories most grocery stores carry,” the company stated.
Harris-Rosebud said she personally requested Dollar General officials consider the addition of a produce section for the Tutwiler site. It was not in the original design when the store first opened in August 2018 to become the discount chain’s 500th location in Mississippi.
“I’m so happy that they’re going to add [produce] to the store, because we’re in a food desert and it’s so hard for us to get fresh fruits and vegetables,” the mayor explained.
The Tutwiler store was the second Dollar General outlet in Tallahatchie County to be targeted by an arsonist.
On Sept. 30, 2022, the Dollar General in nearby Webb burned in a fire later ruled arson.
The original Webb structure, which opened in April 2009, was so badly damaged that the decision was made to tear it down and rebuild from the concrete slab up. The Webb store reopened for business on July 7.
No arrest has been made in connection with either fire.
Dollar General also operates a store on Main Street in Charleston that opened in the spring of 2001.
