In a question and answer session with The Atlantic Cities, Family Dollar founder Leon Levine praised Charlotte as a great place to start a business.
"There is ready access to a diverse workforce, financial capital and engaged business leadership. In most Southern towns, you need to have lived there a few generations before anyone allows you to be a “decision-maker” or to carve out a significant place for yourself in the communities of business and philanthropy. But Charlotte has always been open and forward-looking," Levine told reporter Nate Berg.
Family Dollar, now based in Matthews and headed by Leon's son Howard Levine, reports its quarterly earnings on Wednesday. The chain is facing high expectations, as it has been for the past few years. Family Dollar has been on a growth tear, adding more and more fast-selling food items and competing with larger rival Dollar General for a bigger slice of the discount market.
Here's a short recap of the retailer's annual shareholder meeting in January, where Howard Levine reiterated Family Dollar still plans for aggressive growth. Check back for earnings news on Wednesday.