Dollar Tree plans to open store in Needles

Dollar Tree plans to open store in Needles Feb. 3

NEEDLES - The newest retail offering to Needles residents is scheduled to open its doors on Feb. 3 at 9 a.m., as Dollar Tree comes to town.
The new store is located just south of I-40 on Highway 95.

Dollar Tree district manager Bill Caldwell introduced himself to Needles City Council on Jan. 8, and announced the store's opening.
“We're 98 percent complete with construction,” said Caldwell, who hopes to begin stocking the store on Jan. 22.

On Jan. 9 Caldwell was in Needles hiring 42 workers to help prepare the store for opening day.
Caldwell estimated that of the people hired, 35 were from Needles.
“We will probably retain 20 to 25 permanent workers,” Caldwell said. “Those that work really hard, we keep.”
Dollar Tree sells a variety of merchandise for less than a dollar, including clothing, food, cleaning supplies, paper products, party supplies, toys and kitchen utensils, according to Caldwell. “Everything we sell is one dollar or less,” he said.
According to Caldwell, 40 percent of the store's merchandise is brand-name. Dollar Tree is based out of Chesapeake, Va., and has been expanding west into smaller communities for many years, which is what brought the company to Needles, according to Caldwell.
“We're always looking for rural areas where we can expand our business,” Caldwell said. “Basically, we're looking for wherever there's a need.”
Caldwell said that he plans to have the store manager set up a calendar to allow youth and community groups to use the parking lot for car washes and other fund-raising events.
“We're wanting to be part of the community,” Caldwell said.
Dollar Tree is a national chain of dollar stores with 4,000 locations.