Area residents will soon have another shopping option — Tennessee-based Dollar General plans to open two stores this fall in Plumas County.

  Dollar General will open 7,000-square-foot stores in Chester and Quincy, and expects to employ eight to 10 people at each location.

  The company, which boasts 10,000 stores nationwide, targets rural areas. The stores offer name brand products at reduced prices.

  Company spokesman Dan MacDonald said that Dollar General is not to be confused with Dollar Tree.

  “About 20 percent of our items are $1 or less, while 80 percent is not,” he said.

  MacDonald said that Dollar General could be best described as a small box store. “Our prices are about comparable to Wal-Mart, but our stores are smaller,” he said.

  Using laundry detergent as an example, MacDonald said that Dollar General would stock the most popular brand, which in this case is Tide. The store would also carry a mid-priced national brand and its own private label, Clover Valley. “We offer great quality at very low prices,” he said.

  Products range from grocery items to health and beauty aids to clothing, toys and more.

  MacDonald said he believes the stores’ strengths are quality products, low prices and convenience.

  Plans for the Quincy and Chester locations are now in the county planning department.

  Senior planner Becky Herrin said that Dollar General representatives and engineers have visited the county and have been working with department staff.

  The Chester location will be the Almanor Bowling site.

  In Quincy, it will be the vacant building to the west of Sav-Mor, which was the site of the original American Valley Hardware and has been home to various entities over the past several years.

  Supervisor Lori Simpson said that she is excited about the prospect of new business coming into the area.

  “I want to see the buildings filled up in Quincy,” she said.

  “I am excited that a large corporation thinks highly enough to invest in our area,” Supervisor Sherrie Thrall said. “I’m excited to see something new coming to town, but feel really bad about the loss of the bowling alley and the recreation and social opportunities.”