Dollar General has eyes on Fredonia

Fredonia residents voiced a desire for an increased business presence in a village survey sent out earlier this year. These wishes might come true as Dollar General inquired about the old day care building, near the intersection of Fredonia Avenue and Highway 57, across from McDonalds.

“Their surveyors called me for information regarding the site,” Director of Public Works Roger Strohm said. “One of the big things is the hotline information so we will mark where utilities are so they can locate those.”

The building has been vacant since the former daycare went out of business several years ago. Dollar General might use the same building and sent Strohm preliminary architectural plans to curate it specifically for their business.

“Dollar General’s architecture (team) sent me some pictures of how they would like to do things based on some other buildings,” Strohm said.

The proposed site, at 111 Fredonia Ave., has served various purposes, such as a private residence, restaurant, tavern and day-care center.

The closest Dollar General is in Port Washington, at 1101 N. Wisconsin St., where the company transformed the old Shopko store. Dollar General is a chain convenience store that sells items at a lower price compared to other chain retailers, but — despite its name — is not a dollar store. Currently, Casey’s, a chain gas station and convenience store combination, is the primary shopping center in the village.

The village has pushed for an increased business presence as shown by its new business park. Trustee Joshua Haas, who is also the president of Door Professionals, previously said Fredonia is in a convenient spot for building a successful business.

“We’re right off Highway 57 and that can get you south to Milwaukee or you can go an hour and a half north to Green Bay,” Haas said earlier this month. “We also have low sewer and water rates with low property taxes.”

Nearby Belgium, with a similar demographic and consumer base, previously had the Belgium Village Market, a convenience grocery store. That enterprise saw limited success and closed in November 2008. The Dollar General could serve as the primary chain convenience store for both communities.