A Dollar General store that sells groceries plans to open in a former Save Mart store in Clovis -- the first of many Dollar General stores coming to the Valley.

The store is scheduled to open in the space at Bullard and Minnewawa avenues this spring, Manco Abbott property manager Greg Bethke said Thursday.

Most Dollar General stores are about 7,200 square feet, but the grocery version will take over the entire 27,885-square-foot space.

It will feature traditional dollar-store items but also sell fresh meat and produce, he said.

"It still probably would be considered a dollar store, but it's going to have a significant grocery element," Bethke said.

The Save Mart store closed in November after the landlord decided not to renew the lease, according to a statement by Save Mart.

More Dollar General stores are coming. The company confirmed Thursday that there will be "a couple of dozen stores" in the central San Joaquin Valley but did not identify locations.

Dollar General announced a massive expansion Tuesday, with plans to open 625 stores this year. The company said it will open stores in California for the first time; the Los Angeles Times reported that 50 stores will open in the state.

Dollar General will open a distribution center in California but declined to say where.

The Goodlettsville, Tenn.-based retailer has more than 9,800 stores in 38 states. It sells food, health and beauty aids, cleaning supplies, basic apparel, housewares and seasonal items.

Another dollar store, Family Dollar, also is set to open in Clovis this spring at the northwest corner of Shaw and Clovis avenues.