New grocery store one step closer to replacing former Save a Lot space in Titusville

The former Save a Lot space at the Heritage Town Center. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

A new Dollar General DG Market could be coming soon to the Heritage Town Center on the western side of the city, thanks to an incentive agreement passed by the city’s Budget and Finance Committee on Monday, January 13.

Budget and Finance Committee passes incentive agreement for former Save a Lot space

The former Save a Lot space at the Heritage Town Center. (Nathan Watson / Bham Now)

During yesterday’s Budget and Finance Committee meeting, the committee heard and approved a new incentive agreement for the building at 873 Dennison Ave SW in Titusville’s Heritage Town Center.

The building was formerly occupied by a Save a Lot grocery store, which closed abruptly on August 31, 2023. As one of the only grocers in the community, the loss of Save a Lot made it harder for residents to access fresh, healthy food.

“We all were devastated in 2023 when the Save A Lot closed in the Heritage Shopping Center. It was an unexpected loss and left a void in an area that was already a food desert.

Since then I have been working with Mayor Woodfin, IEO Department Head Cornell Wesley and the rest of Mayor’s team to fill that void.

Building equity in our community, especially as it relates to food insecurity, must start with ensuring healthy, affordable food options for residents that live in one of Birmingham’s designated food deserts. 

At the start of 2025 we have found a new tenant for a much needed grocery store. I am excited to continue to provide healthy food options and stores to the District 6 residents.”

The incentive agreement—a one-time, flat fee of $600,000—aims to ensure that the community has access to healthy food by renovating the space and helping the landlord locate a new tenant to fill the space.

A new Dollar General DG Market could be coming to Titusville

According to City of Birmingham Chief Economic Development Officer Cornell Wesley, discount store chain Dollar General has signed a lease to bring a new “DG Market” store to the property.

According to Dollar General’s website, the DG Market format offers the general merchandise customers are familiar with alongside:

• Expanded produce, refrigerated and frozen food offerings
• Dairy products
• An assortment of fresh meats

“This is not a traditional Dollar General, it is a full-service grocery store akin to the Walmart Neighborhood Market model. Dollar General calls it the DG Market, and it would be a completely new grocer format for our community.”

Dollar General operates one DG Market in Alabama, at the Blue Spring Village shopping center in Huntsville.

Currently, Dollar General operates a “traditional” location nearby at 917 Dennison Ave SW.

“[Dollar General] will retain their lease at 917 Dennison Ave SW. Our goal was to incentivize them to bring a full-service grocery in the new location, so it will be their prerogative to work with their landlord to determine the best use of the site moving forward.

However, they are still obligated for payment, so we will not be creating a blighted structure in the original site.”

The incentive agreement has been passed by the city’s Budget and Finance Committee; the agreement will likely be heard and voted upon during the Birmingham City Council’s next meeting on Tuesday, January 21.

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