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Construction Progressing On New Dollar General Stores In Molino, Walnut Hill
September 6, 2022
Construction is well underway on new Dollar General stores in Molino and Walnut Hill.
The Walnut Hill store is located at 7100 Highway 97, on the north side of the intersection of South Highway 99. The development was limited to 2.08 acres of a 4.12 acre property, including a 10,769 square-foot store with 43 parking spaces and a new driveway connection to Highway 97 directly across from South Highway 99.
The store near Molino is located at the corner of Highway 29 and Highway 196. The 10,640 square foot Dollar General is located on a 1.5 acre parcel with driveway access to Highway 196, not Highway 29.
At an Escambia County development review meeting in May, several area residents spoke out against the Molino area store. Most cited traffic concerns about the intersection, including several fatal accidents that have occurred. They also expressed that the store is not needed due to the proximity of other Dollar Generals on Highway 29, including at Molino Road 2.5 miles to the north and Neal Road four miles to the south.
Pictured top: The Dollar General Store under construction at Highway 97 and South Highway 99 in Walnut Hill. First two photos below show the store at Highway 29 and Highway 196 near Molino, and the bottom photo shows the Walnut Hill store as seen from South Highway 99. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Above: Molino area store.
Above: Molino area store, seen from Highway 29.
Above: Walnut Hill store, seen from South Highway 99.
Comments
30 Responses to “Construction Progressing On New Dollar General Stores In Molino, Walnut Hill”
I’m happy to see development in the area. Saves gas dollars to buy local. What we can’t find at one store may still be in stock at another. Dollar General is not to blame for local accidents – it’s the drivers. The folks in a hurry need to slow down and no one should drink should drink and drive. Those texting and driving need to put their phones down and pay attention to their surroundings and their driving.
Instead of building more stores they should put that money into the stores that already exist, employees are under paid, that don’t get enough payroll to get anything done, (main reason their shelves are not getting stock) one person can’t do it all.
John Bodie:
I will take the 7 mile ride to Grocery Advantage. As far as the grand CLOSING I will be there to picket the store if I can.
Art critics abound. Artists seem to be in short supply.
(I know I am not one so little reason to criticize. Others do it far better than I could…if I even had a complaint.)
David for freedom
More low wage jobs and bags of potato chips so our community can be healthy!
If the county really cared what it citizens thought this location would not be going in. When the planning board approved it there was not 1 person at the meeting saying they wanted it. Everyone stood opposed. The planning commission gave their rubber stamp except 1 man stood against the rest of the board. If citizens would have supported it at the meeting I may feel different but not one person came in support. That said it’s time to change the commissioner at the next election. So we can get rid of the appointed board and planning commissioner. They have failed us. I just have to wonder how many other businesses and subdivision are going in over citizen objections. I also wonder how many favors are being exchanged behind closed doors for these yea votes. It seems pretty consistent with Dollar General getting locations put in over citizen objections. I do agree it doesn’t look Rustic either another eyesore. Even the one on Muscogee Rd and 97 looks better than this metal building. I agree they need to be held accountable to there words if they voluntarily agreed to a Rustic look. Maybe we just have differing views on Rustic The one on Kingsfield Road looks Rustic and part of the area not some eyesore like the one on 29 and 196.
Not seeing $13k less would hurt on a 300% increase over purchase price. But I dont follow zillow prices over actual March appraisal
.North Esc. Can you check on the rustic look that was promised at the meeting. THANKS
Lol, The one’s hollering about Dollar General will be the first in it at grand opening. If you don’t like it , drive 15 miles or more with this cheap gas your buying. Lol.
Every time i look at that thing, I cringe. I feel infuriated and disgusted. Who in their right mind would think that is a good idea, unless they are sadistic and want a good place to watch people maimed and killed. Is everyone in “power” on the take? Or, am I misunderstanding how these things work? Someone please tell me just one good thing that can come from this. I only see the word “STUPID!” when I pass by here. I must find a better route. I think everyone with a heart or brain should just boycott this store. Love ones have been killed there WITHOUT a hazard enhancer!!!
They can’t keep help or stock at the Molino store who will work and stock the new one?
@Glad
Certain things should be considered. We forget our tendency toward confirmation bias, as well as the current real estate down trend.
Some people already don’t stop at 196 before entering Hwy.29. I have nearly hit the same guy in a truck that does this all the time. Dollar General or not so he probablly doesn’t stop at red lights either. YOU know who you are???
I love shopping at Dollar General. I don’t have to get all dressed up like I do when I shop at Wal-Mart.
@paul. The property i used to own lost 13.000 value in the last 30 days but you believe what you will i check facts
There is no way that I would have sold my property to the Dollar General owners, no matter how hungry I was. If D.G. is willing to buy it for x amount of money, then there is someone around the corner willing to give Z amount of money, that won’t put a blight on the community. I know it’s public record, but I wouldn’t dare look. I’m afraid it might be a neighbor (God forbid it be a friend) that whored themselves out for THE LOVE OF MONEY!
Just what our communities need. More Dollar Generals sucking up land, wasting space with their ugly buildings, understaffed stores, selling rotten milk.
Y’all crying about needing a red light at that intersection are crazy! Imagine topping that hill at 65 in an 18 wheeler and the lights red with cars lined up……… but of course nobody cares about truckers or loggers anymore………..
what about enough drainage? Those stores have been robbed too
Kim:Glad
It only caused the land value to go up and no need for a red light.
You have to admire the beauty of these stores. NOT
I have been in some dollar general grocery stores in Alabama. Would be better as a grocery market than a regular dollar general.
Im so glad i sold my house and moved. The corner of 29&196 needs a redlight. Been saying it for years. Too bad the new dollar general ruined the value of the house i sold
This intersection is a dangerous intersection. Instead of a Dollar General they should have put a red light there. I also heard that this Dollar General was suppose to be rustic looking, so far it’s a metal building.
how about a store with meat, fresh veggies – kind of like WD or neighborhood grocery walmart – I am SICK of seeing dollar general – one is 1 mile from my house and I RARELY go anymore – they are poorly managed a restaurant —- I know this upsets people but I have been here almost 26 years and would LOVE something decent out here
What if the lighting at the intersection makes it safer? What if people see the store and slow down a little bit? I’ve been going through that intersection over forty years and never had an accident. If you stop and then look, instead of looking before stopping, it’s not hard to see traffic.
Dollar General highway 196 and Highway 29 agreed voluntarily to a rustic looking building just like the one on Kingsfield Rd and 297.Not another metal eyesore. I have spoken to Horace L Jones it seems he doesn’t want to do anything about it saying it was not one of the condition of the conditional use application. As I left the meeting disappointed that our concerns feel on deaf ears except for 1 no vote. We are least had a better looking building agreed upon voluntarily after the board members requested it. But we see why they voluntarily made the agreement to side step what they intended. Also during the meeting Dollar General admitted to putting the entrance on Highway 196 to avoid having to go to FDot and let the county deal with the extra traffic on Highway 196.
once this eyesore is open and the first accident happens on Highway 196 and Highway 29.
I say file a lawsuit against the county the planning board and Dollar General for this location as they failed to understand how dangerous this intersection already is. There are no planned turning lanes from Highway 196 onto Highway 29 just the 2 lane Rd.
Dollar General agreed to make this store look rustic on the outside, NOT AN UGLY METAL BUILDING. the zoning was for 6500 sq feet or less and planning board allowed this at 1 1/2 acre lot. Regulations means NOTHING in this county. Wait till the fatal accident and lets hear the outcrys
Just what this area needs…..another dollar general
Could they have picked a more dangerous place to put a store in Molino? They obviously do not give a hoot about the safety of their patrons and others. One of the most ridiculous things to do in this present atmosphere of things that don’t make sense. Another population reduction ploy by the powers that be? I will not shop there. I am not suicidal.
Dollar General are eye sores.