Shopping there isn't so much a habit as a necessity.

That's certainly the case for the few near the lake where we spend some time. I counted 9 stores in a 20 mile radius around the lake recently when looking on google maps.

I think most of their current issues are related to difficulty finding people willing to take store associate jobs and too much inventory.

We stopped by the DG closest to our place back in July during the middle of the day on an holiday weekend and it was closed. Came back by a few hours later and it was open. Seemed like they just didn't have the staff to keep it open that day.

Last weekend I stopped by the same store around 11am to buy a single $2 item. I went to check out and no one was at the register and the self checkout station wasn't working. I waited 2-3mins and the lone associate working the store that day eventually came to the register and checked me out. I think they have been running that location with a single associate during all shifts the entire summer because I don't recall seeing more than one any time I was there. That doesn't seem sustainable nor does it seem good for slippage and general merchandising of the store.

Jeff