South Pekin welcomes first “regular” store to town

By Alyssa Donovan

August 19, 2013 Updated Aug 19, 2013 at 9:54 AM CDT

SOUTH PEKIN, Ill.-- Residents will no longer have to take a trip to the next town to buy their necessities.

People began lining up at 6 a.m. Saturday morning for the grand opening of the Dollar General in South Pekin.

The first 50 families in the door received gift cards, but most were just excited the store was finally open.

Casey’s has been the only store in the town for several years.

Village Trustee Debby Hoehn said the new store will be a boost to the local economy.

Hoehn said the idea to put a store in town came from a conversation with the school principal who mentioned that there was nowhere to buy school supplies.

“We haven't had a regular store like this ever," said Hoehn. "We used to have little grocery stores years ago. It's just a lot more convenient that people don't have to go all the way to Pekin to get birthday cards or diapers or anything like that."

Hoehn said South Pekin is also building a sidewalk down main street so that people can safely walk to the new Dollar General.
