As 2023 begins, Orange City remains the retail-commercial capital of West Volusia and shows no sign of giving up its ranking.

Coming soon, according to the city’s Development Services Department, is Popshelf, a subsidiary of Dollar General. Popshelf has secured a $1.1 million renovation permit for 12,160 square feet of the former Kmart store in the Marketplace shopping center at the intersection of Saxon Boulevard and Enterprise Road.

Kmart closed in 2012, but the void has mostly been filled by Ollie’s, a discount and closeout merchandise outlet, and Conn’s, an appliance and furniture dealer. Now, Popshelf will occupy the remaining Kmart space at 810 Saxon Blvd.

Popshelf is a brand created by Dollar General to attract more higher-income consumers, including those wishing to stretch their dollars amid surging inflation by pricing most of its items at $5 or less.

Also in the Marketplace shopping center is a Dollar General, one of three such stores in Orange City.

Dollar General now has approximately 18,000 stores in 47 states. The newer Popshelf chain has about 100 stores in nine states.

Another new store preparing to open nearby is a medical-marijuana dispensary, known as Green Dragon Cannabis. Green Dragon has retrofitted the former Seven-11 convenience store at 2590 S. Volusia Ave. (also known as U.S. Highway 17-92).

Green Dragon was established in Colorado in 2009. The chain now has 17 stores in Florida. The company’s website notes it is expanding into Orange City, as well as Orlando, Crescent City and Leesburg.