Source that they are replacing grocery stores? Dollar stores are closing and not expanding . 99 cents stores went bankrupt, rest have been closing hundreds of stores.

Also dollar stores carry produce just grocery at least largest ones do like dollar general. They are designed to compete against grocery stores and wallmart’s neighborhood markets.

There have been a few articles about this over the past couple of years, usually in reference to one study or another. Here's one that references a USDA study:

https://substack.perfectunion.us/p/dollar-stores-are-killing...