Family Dollar on Track for Late January 2024 Opening

The big rush and opportunity to get a jump start on business with the Christmas season is taking a back seat at the Family Dollar Store on the south edge of town.

Donovan Martin, of Ogden, Utah, and Ben Winkle of St. George, Utah, are the general contractors on the development of the new business store that will potentially employ four to six employees once they are up and running. The two head contractors are both less than 30 years old.

Doug Ost, who sold the property to the development company, Leading Tech Development, was impressed with the crew of three that put the roof on last week. "The roof up there, with the windy weather we have and all that, the weather and the frost...shorthanded, but they got'er! Three guys were on the roof, gittin' 'er done."

Martin added, "We are super lucky this year with not having snow yet. I'm so glad to have it this far with hardly any snow to speak of."

Previously, the tentative date set for opening was sometime in December; the new, hopefully projected date is late January of 2024.

As to delays, Martin said a big issue was the shortage of help. "The shortage of laborers has been a big one on this project; this one got squeezed in at the end of the year sort of thing without any help."

Asked if any local contractors were hired on this project, Martin replied, "The electricians are here in Malta, Malta Ready Mix, and local contractors were hired." Spencer Electric was awarded the bid for the electrical aspect of the project.

The crew planned to affix a green sheet for the background behind the Family Dollar sign, however, plans must have changed because as of print time, it was not hung.

Leading Tech Development has the job of the construction of the building from ground breaking, to pouring the floor, putting up the shell of the building, making sure the electrical and plumbing are in according to specs and other work, right up to the point of putting up the shelves. At that point, the keys are turned over to Family Dollar personnel and the remaining work is theirs.

The building is approximately 10,500 square feet, being 114 feet by 91.5 feet. The building is one level, it has no basement.

Ost said, "I am glad the weather has held for us. Things are coming right along. I had to get water and sewer put in and it has been an uphill battle, we are gaining ground. I have to get the sewer line finished and two man holes I have to go get and get them in the ground."

Martin affirming Ost's comment added, "It's coming along. The manholes to get the sewer in have been backlogged, so we are waiting on parts...kinda like a lot of these places, a lot of people have to wait on parts. Ever since the Covid hit, everybody is hit by the same thing. Every supplier and his brother is saying "Covid" and we wait."

Entrance to the business will be from the highway leading into Hillcrest. The one to the west is going to be changing with the construction changes on Hwy 191 South. The approach in the center of those two is being discontinued, as per Ost.

As the town anxiously waits for the opening of the Family Dollar store, it looks as though it will now be the newest business opening in 2024.