Dollar General along Route 780 opens in Upper Burrell

Upper Burrell residents anticipating the opening of the Dollar General along Route 780 no longer have to wait.

The store, located on 4500 Seventh Street Road, opened its doors on Christmas Eve. The store is expected to gain some traction from its placement near a residential area.

“We look forward to welcoming customers to our new store and hope they will enjoy shopping at our new location,” said Dan Nieser, Dollar General’s senior vice president of real estate and store development, in a press release announcing the store’s opening.

Construction of the store began in early fall after all of the township’s requirements were fulfilled.

There was some pushback from residents who did not want the store built near their homes. One resident said the store would be an eyesore for the area and depress property value.

Developers promised to take measures to appease residents and the township after it was requested that exterior lighting face downward to prevent light pollution. Another request asked for the installation of fencing along the back of the store to create a screen between the store and neighbors.

To celebrate its opening, Dollar General plans to donate 100 new books to a nearby elementary school to benefit students ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade.

The new store opens the opportunity for schools, nonprofit organizations and libraries within a 15-mile radius of the store to apply for Dollar General Literacy Foundation grants. The program aims to invest in literacy programs that help students learn to read, prepare for the high school equivalency exam or learn English.

The store expects to employ six to 10 people.

Store hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. every day. To apply, visit careers.dollargeneral.com.