Dollar General buys 41 closed Wal-Marts

Dollar General has purchased 41 stores closed by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., including two locations in Arkansas.

The discount retailer said Wednesday that former Wal-Mart Express stores in Coal Hill and Mulberry were part of the transaction, which included stores in 11 states. Dollar General said it plans to move an existing store in Mulberry to the new location, while the Coal Hill store will be its first in the market.

Terms of the acquisitions were not available. Dollar General spokesman Dan MacDonald said both Arkansas stores should be open by October. Dollar General — which currently operates 375 stores in the state — also will operate fuel stations at both locations.

Wal-Mart closed 269 stores worldwide in January, including 154 in the U.S., as part of its efforts to streamline and reorganize operations. Most of the U.S closures were of smaller-format Wal-Mart Express stores, including 11 in Arkansas.