A string of Dollar General stores has been popping up in the Suffolk and Isle of Wight County areas in recent months.

North Carolina-based construction company Rhetson Companies Inc. has been behind the three Dollar General projects on Carolina Road, Carrollton Boulevard and Godwin Boulevard.

Bill Keller, job superintendent at Rhetson Companies Inc., said the company broke ground on the Carrollton Boulevard location about two weeks ago. The store, projected to be 9,100 square feet, is slated to have its grand opening early next year, according to Nolan Miles, Dollar General internal and external communications coordinator.

Construction for the Carolina Road and Godwin Boulevard locations began this summer.

Miles stated the Godwin Boulevard store is complete and will announce its grand opening soon.

Keller said the Carolina Road location is “about 95 percent complete.”

Construction for the store began about three months ago, according to Keller. Miles anticipates the store will open later on this month. However, Keller said the store might open as soon as this Sunday.

Miles said the influx of Dollar Generals is mainly for customer convenience.

“We increase our presence to better serve our customers, and we know convenience is a major factor in their shopping decisions,” Miles stated in an email. “Where the addition of a new store creates a more convenient location, shoppers win. Our stores generally serve customers within a 3 to 5 mile radius, or a 10-minute drive.”

Miles stated there are currently 356 stores in the commonwealth.

Rhetson Companies Inc., founded in 2002, originally served as a custom homebuilder. In 2009, the company diversified its portfolio and since then has done projects for Advance Auto Parts, Dollar General Stores in the North Carolina and Virginia areas, Dunkin Donuts, Brixx Pizza and other retail and medical office spaces.