1. Dollar General—1,300
Dollar General already operates 10,500 locations, but the chain plans to open 1,300 new stores over the next 24 months.
2. Family Dollar—1,000
Family Dollar currently has 7,000 units. It would like to grow by another 1,000 in the next two years.
3. 7-Eleven—600
Convenience store operator 7-Eleven has a whopping 41,000 locations. But it keeps on growing, with plans for 600 new stores.
4. CVS/Pharmacy—600
CVS/Pharmacy is a fierce competitor in the drug-store space. Today, it operates 7,314 locations around the country. By 2016, the number will likely rise to 7,914.
5. Dollar Tree—600
Not to be outdone by Dollar General, Dollar Tree has made public plans for 600 new store openings in the next two years. It currently operates 4,600 stores.
6. T-Mobile—600
In no doubt driven by Americans' love affair with their tech gadgets, T-Mobile wants to grow its 2,000-store portfolio by another 600 locations in the near-term.
7. Cash Store—450
Cash checking chain Cash Store has ambitions to expand the number of its stores by 280 from the current 450.
8. GameStop—400
Another retail outlier, GameStop, already operates 6,582 stores. But it sees opportunities for another 400.
9. Great Clips—400
Hair salon and spa Great Clips operates 3,000 locations. By 2016, it will add another 400 to the mix.
10. Mail Box Stores—400
It may be somewhat under the radar, but Mail Box Stores provides a wide array of offerings--from office supplies to shipping materials to printing services, including notary assistance. It currently has 2,000 stores, with plans to open another 400 over a two-year period.
