DOLLAR STORES HAVE EXISTED FOR NEARLY 70 YEARS BUT FIRST GAINED NATIONWIDE POPULARITY IN THE 1990S (SHRESTHA, 2016). THE IMPACT OF THE CONTINUED EXPANSION OF DOLLAR STORES ON FOOD PURCHASING PATTERNS REMAINS UNCLEAR. MEDIA REPORTS HAVE SPECULATED THAT DOLLAR STORE GROWTH MAY CHALLENGE AND FORCE OUT LOCAL GROCERS THROUGH COMPETITIVE PRICING (MEYERSOHN, 2019); HOWEVER, DOLLAR STORES MAY ALSO FILL FOOD VOIDS WHERE LOCAL GROCERS DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH BUSINESS TO MAINTAIN A STORE (PETENKO, 2019). MOREOVER, SOME DOLLAR STORES BEGAN OFFERING PERISHABLE FOOD ITEMS AT THE TURN OF THE 21ST CENTURY TO HELP FILL THE FOOD GAP (SHRESTHA, 2016). DESPITE THEIR GROWING IMPORTANCE FOR THE AMERICAN FOOD CONSUMER, RELATIVELY LITTLE SCHOLARSHIP EXISTS ON DOLLAR STORES AND THE EFFECT THEY HAVE ON THE COMMUNITIES THEY ENTER. THERE IS A NEED TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE IMPLICATIONS OF DOLLAR STORES FOR FOOD ACCESS, THE DIETARY HEALTH OF RURAL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES, AND DOLLAR STORES' ROLE IN THE ECONOMICWELL-BEING OF THE COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THEY ARE LOCATED.WE PROPOSE TO HOLD A TWO-DAY WORKSHOP IN BOSTON, MA IN JUNE OF 2022 TO BRING TOGETHER LEADING ECONOMIC, RETAIL, PUBLIC HEALTH, AND NUTRITION RESEARCHERS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES. WE WILL INVITE APPROXIMATELY 50-60 RESEARCHERS AND GRADUATE STUDENTS TO ATTEND THE WORKSHOP. THE OVERALL GOAL IS TO FOSTER COLLABORATION BETWEEN ECONOMISTS, FOOD RETAIL, AND PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCHERS TO SET COLLECTIVELY THE RESEARCH PRIORITIES THAT WILL LEAD TO A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE MANNER IN WHICH DOLLAR STORES SHAPE THE FOOD RETAIL LANDSCAPE, DIETS, AND WELL-BEING.