Dollar Tree heads to Oak Grove Plaza in Roanoke County

Oak Grove Plaza, a suburban shopping center located at 2065 Electric Road, is transitioning under new ownership. Management members of the real estate company that purchased the complex said the proceeds from leasing the vacant anchor space would be used to pay for needed maintenance work, including a new roof and air conditioning equipment. Parking lot resurfacing. Upgrade parking lot lighting and shopping center signage. and repainting the building.

Dollar Tree, a Chesapeake-based chain of discount variety stores that previously sold most of its items for $1, raised its prices to $1.25 in 2021. As of January 28, the company had 16,340 stores in the United States and Canada, about half of them. Dollar Tree and half Family Dollar. There are already 13 Dollar Tree stores in and within 25 miles of Roanoke, according to the chain's website.

Maurice King, who lives in the Oak Grove area, emailed The Roanoke Times his reaction to the news about the Dollar Tree project, saying he was “very disappointed.” They wanted a grocery store like Trader Joe's or Lidl, he said.

Lidl began efforts to enter the region several years ago, but those plans have since fallen through.