Construction is expected to begin today (Friday) on a new Dollar General location in Santa Anna.    The store will be located on the west end of town, on Highway 67 or Wallis Avenue.  City leaders and business owners gathered Thursday afternoon for groundbreaking.

The construction will be done by BK & R Enterprises.  Richard Duhon, owner, said dirt work at the site will take about two weeks followed by pad and parking lot construction starting around January 18th, weather permitting.  The 9,100 square foot store is expected to be open for business somewhere near the first of April, Duhon said.

With the recent closure of the only grocery store in town, the new store means a lot to the community.  “Yes it does, it’s bringing revenue here, it is bringing jobs and a lot of excitement and things that we really, desperately need in this area,” said Janice Modawell, President of the Santa Anna Chamber of Commerce.  Harold Fahrlender, Mayor of Santa Anna, said the store will be located on one of the busiest roads in West Texas.  “It’s going to be great for the city, we’ll have tax money and all of that.  It’ll be another outlet for the people,” said Fahrlender.  He added that it will save Santa Anna residents from having to drive to Coleman or Brownwood for things such as pet food and milk and some grocery items.