Dollar General

Dollar General—a publicly traded, investment-grade retailer operating nearly 20,000 stores across the U.S.—offers investors a highly attractive asset through its corporate-guaranteed, absolute triple-net lease structure, eliminating landlord responsibilities as tenants cover all property costs including taxes, insurance, and maintenance.

In Rockford, Illinois—the state’s fifth-largest city with a population around 147,000 in 2024—this retailer benefits from a region undergoing cautious resurgence: household incomes average around $53,300, per-capita income roughly $30,400, and retail sales exceed $2.7 billion, or about $18,400 per person. While nearly 22 % of residents live below the poverty line—highlighting strong demand for discount essentials in certain demographics—Rockford also showcases major stability factors including affordable housing, growing walkable communities, and a revitalizing downtown . Employment is anchored by healthcare giants like UW Health and Mercy, transportation hubs such as UPS, and advanced manufacturing at Collins Aerospace—supporting diversification beyond Rockford’s industrial past. Indeed, as one local Redditor noted, recent urban renewal has “changed a lot” in areas once deemed unsafe; projects like the Chicago‑Rockford rail and the Hard Rock Casino have brought momentum and optimism. Another pointed out that lower-income neighborhoods often rely on dollar stores for basic needs: “In lower income areas where people don’t drive, these establishments are the only option for a lot of people.” A current Rockford Dollar General listing at 4775 Linden Road is marketed at a 6.15 % cap rate, citing the city’s strategic highway access via I‑90/I‑39, its status as a midwestern logistics hub about 90 miles from Chicago, and a recent #1 ranking as the hottest housing market in the U.S. Located in a trade area with limited direct competition and supported by strong traffic from nearby residential and commercial zones, the store is poised to capture a broad customer base. Although Rockford faces some socioeconomic challenges—poverty is roughly double state averages—the combination of low costs, improving infrastructure, diversified jobs, and essential-value retail demand supports sustained performance. Investors seeking passive, long-term returns will find in Rockford’s Dollar General a compelling net-lease opportunity: corporate-backed, resident-centric, and deeply entrenched in a city that, while working through its revitalization, has demonstrated tangible economic rejuvenation, bolstered by both public investment and steady consumer demand.