Residents of Austin and surrounding communities will soon have direct access to a grocery store now that the city has signed an agreement with Rafferty Development, LLC., which will purchase property and build a Dollar General Marketplace on US 31.
“We crossed a major threshold over the last few days by entering into this agreement with Rafferty Development,” City of Austin Mayor Roger Hawkins said. “This project would have never happened without the leadership of the City Council, Board of Public Works, and the Austin Redevelopment Commission. We all worked as a team to get this anchor grocery store located in Austin.”
Dollar General Marketplace – also known as DG Market – will fill a void downtown just south of the existing Dollar General Store, which used to serve as home to a now-demolished car wash and is owned by the Austin Redevelopment Commission.
The property’s location is easily accessible and convenient, Hawkins said, and much needed.
“Not having a grocery store has really created a food desert in our community and impacted our quality of life here,” said Austin Clerk Treasurer Chris Fugate. “With their emphasis on fresh, affordable meats and produce, as well as household items, DG Market is going to be a welcome addition to our city.”
Construction is slated to begin in the next few months with an expected open date for some time in 2024.
Earlier in September the Scott County Commissioners denied a petition to re-zone agricultural property that would have allowed a similar Dollar General Marketplace store to locate on State Road 256 east of Austin.