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The Indicator from Planet Money

Do dollar store bans work?

The Indicator from Planet Money

NPR

Business

4.79.2K Ratings

🗓️ 15 May 2023

⏱️ 9 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In recent years, we've seen dozens of cities ban new dollar stores from opening up. The thinking goes, by keeping dollar stores out, it'll be easier to get much-needed grocery stores to come in. On today's show, we visit two cities that have passed dollar store bans, New Orleans and Birmingham, to see if they've worked.

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Transcript

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0:00.0

NPR.

0:11.6

So we've been talking a lot about the influencer economy here on the indicator and it got us thinking about this particular corner of the influencer world.

0:19.8

Hey y'all, it's Thrifty Tiffany and welcome back to my channel.

0:23.5

Today we have a Dollar Tree Hall and I am a store haul.

0:28.2

And they're kind of this perfect window into why so many people love these discount chains because you can buy so many different things for cheap and influencers know it.

0:37.2

There's gear for prepers.

0:38.2

Today we're going to talk about 10 survival items that you can buy at the Dollar Store to home decor.

0:45.2

So these are wine bottle shaped decor pieces.

0:48.2

So these are really fun for decor for your space if you are a wine decor fan.

0:54.2

Ooh, I don't consider myself a wine decor fan but I think I could be converted.

0:58.2

Well, Steven Bessaha.

1:00.2

Hello, Steven is joining us today from the Gulf States newsroom.

1:04.2

This is a family of public radio stations in Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.

1:08.2

And Steven is here to talk all about dollar stores.

1:11.2

Yeah, it's good to join you, Waelin.

1:13.2

And we've heard for some time for all you could buy at Dollar Stores.

1:16.2

There's something really important that you can't. Fresh produce.

1:20.2

Sure, maybe there are a couple bananas or apples at the counter.

1:23.2

But they often so little to no produce that isn't canned or frozen.

1:28.2

Dollar chain critics also accused the stores of making it harder to recruit grocery stores.

1:33.2

Essentially, it's this one to punch against public health.

1:36.2

Fewer grocery stores filled with fresh broccoli, more dollar stores filled with packaged or processed foods.

...

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