About The Project
The Community Noise Lab is conducting research on dollar stores in Mississippi. Our research is supported by a childhood obesity grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. This project centers around asking and answering these questions:
What is the prevalence of dollar stores in Mississippi? How has this changed over time?
How do communities and residents in Mississippi perceive dollar stores?
What food is available at dollar stores in Mississippi?
How might dollar stores be correlated with health outcomes like childhood obesity?
About Eliana
Hi all! I’m Eliana Hornbuckle, a new research assistant with the Community Noise Lab. I’m building on our current research on environmental comfort to include food access. Specifically, I’m studying dollar stores in Mississippi. I’ve been involved in food systems research for many years. I conducted spatial analysis on dollar store locations and also wrote my undergraduate thesis on Dollar General’s impact on food access and community morale in Iowa. I am originally from the small town of Nevada in central Iowa, where there is both a Dollar General and a DG Market.
Project Plan
The Community Noise Lab is studying the presence of dollar stores in Mississippi and their correlation with childhood obesity with financial support from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.
This research project will span a few years and is just getting started. We are beginning with understanding historical trends of chain dollar stores in the state of Mississippi. This will include conducting spatial analysis to understand how dollar stores are
spread across the state. Next, we plan to incorporate the lived experiences of residents in select communities across the state through surveys, focus groups and interviews. We will also be partnering with local students across the state to conduct nutritional surveys of the food products sold in dollar stores.
Check this website page for updates and how you can get involved in our research!
How can you help
Currently, we are conducting a historical analysis of dollar stores over time in Mississippi. Our analysis begins in 1997, where there were numerous regional dollar store chains (Bill’s, Fred’s and TWL) along with national chains (Dollar General, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree).
We are trying to get a better understanding of what these local, historical dollar store chains were like. We are specifically interested in learning if any of the stores would have sold food. If you lived in Mississippi between 1990 and 2000 or between 2020 and 2025, we would appreciate it if you could share your experience with any of these local chain stores. Click here to complete a brief survey and help inform our research!
How can you help
Currently, we are conducting a historical analysis of dollar stores over time in Mississippi. Our analysis begins in 1997, where there were numerous regional dollar store chains (Bill’s, Fred’s and TWL) along with national chains (Dollar General, Family Dollar, Dollar Tree).
We are trying to get a better understanding of what these local, historical dollar store chains were like. We are specifically interested in learning if any of the stores would have sold food. If you lived in Mississippi between 1990 and 2000 or between 2020 and 2025, we would appreciate it if you could share your experience with any of these local chain stores. Click here to complete a brief survey and help inform our research!
