Dollar Tree has had a location at Patuxent Crossing (formerly San Souci) shopping center for years, and recently opened a second location in Pax River Village Center (formerly Millison Plaza). The retail company has plans for a third location at the Laurel Glen Shopping Center in a 13,000 square foot vacant space next to Harbor Freight. That makes three Dollar Tree locations within a 6 mile, 12 minute drive from Lexington Park to California.

Known for being the store where everything is just $1, prices have slowly crept up over that amount due to inflation and tariffs. Despite this, Dollar Tree reported sales were up more than 5% in June, with total year expected earnings over $19 billion. Rebranding has begun, with higher priced sections now featuring items with up to a $7 price tag. The new store in California is one of 300 planned, with half that amount having already opened in the first half of the year.

Family Dollar, once a competitor, was purchased by Dollar Tree in 2015 for more than $9 billion. After closing 600 stores in 2024 and planning to close nearly 400 more this year, Dollar Tree finalized the sale of Family Dollar this year for $1 billion. Brigade Capital Management and Macellum Capital Management, both private equity firms, purchased Family Dollar.

Private equity firms have meant the death of many recognizable brands. Their main goal is improving financial performance through cost cutting measures before selling the company for a profit. Leveraging brand recognition through licensing deals provides a quick infusion of income to boost numbers, while brick and mortar locations, and their employees, pay the price.

Retail stores with locations in St. Mary’s that have been gobbled up by private equity firms include: Joann Fabrics, Big Lots, Claire’s, Kmart, Payless Shoes, and Sears. Other major brands include Toys-R-Us, Red Lobster, Hooters, and Party City, all of which have now closed in Charles County. “Private equity firms load companies with unsustainable amounts of debt and leave them financially vulnerably,” Valentina Dabos told Newsweek earlier this year.

Filling an empty building with a new business is a positive development. New jobs are created, yes, but the type of employment–part-time, minimum wage, without benefits–strain taxpayer wallets. Government subsidies exist to help low income workers get a leg up and climb out of poverty. A report published in 2020 for the U.S. Senate’s Budget Committee tells the story. The report found Walmart, McDonald’s, Dollar Tree, Dollar General, and Amazon were among the top companies employing people on SNAP and Medicaid.

No exact opening date is available, but Dollar Tree at Laurel Glen Shopping Center has been in the works since 2024. A recently installed dumpster area behind the store, and job listings online, suggest the store could open soon.

Thanks to the reader who provided info about Dollar Tree potentially opening here for inspiring the research.

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Dollar Tree Number Three

O’Reilly Charlotte Hall