Dollar General, a national food and variety store chain, has filed paperwork to open a new store in North Lawrence, leaving residents optimistic that their long-held hopes for a grocery store are inching closer.

“That’s going to be a real big plus for us over here,” said Ted Boyle, president of the North Lawrence Improvement Association. “The situation we’re in right now is a real burden. There’s really no place to go to get day-to-day items.”

The retailer has filed paperwork with City Hall to build a 9,000-square-foot store at 1001 N. Third Street, which is on the site of a used car lot just north of the Sonic fast food drive-in.

A timeline for the project to begin construction and to open were not immediately available. Attempts to reach a representative with Dollar General were unsuccessful.

Sandra Day, the city planner reviewing the project, said the proper zoning for the store already is in place, and now the project only must meet site plan requirements.

“They have two lots behind the property that they are using as well, so they are going to have a lot of nice space to work with,” Day said.

The project comes at the same time that City Hall leaders have promised to make attracting retailers to North Lawrence more of a priority. When Mayor Mike Amyx took office earlier this month, he said he wanted a new city retail task force to prepare a report on what is needed to attract a full-fledged grocery store to North Lawrence.

Boyle said that is still the goal, but said Dollar General will help fill the need. Dollar General stores in the area typically carry canned goods, boxed goods, and often have a small refrigerated food section, in addition to stocking a host of household supplies.

In other development news, Hy-Vee is planning to expand its grocery store at Clinton Parkway and Kasold Drive.

The company has filed plans with the city to add 11,000 square feet onto the east end of the store. Details, though, about what new amenities the expansion may include haven’t been announced.

“We haven’t added many new departments to this store in a while, so it will be an effort to make everything new, improved and easier for our customers,” said Andrew Yocum, store director.

A timeline for that expansion hasn’t yet been announced either.