Shoppers say they like the stores because they feature prices lower than big box retailers without such headaches as waiting in long lines, driving across town, and parking in giant lots.

But don’t look for prices on the shampoo, soda and aluminum foil at the local Dollar Tree stores.

“Here, every single item is a dollar or less,” said Leon Chapa, the 31st Street store interim manager. “We’re the only dollar store left.”

Chapa says that’s because the other dollar stores offer items such as blue jeans and barbecue pits that can cost up to $50.

Sitting across the parking lot from an H-E-B grocery store, Chapa said shoppers often come here first, looking for bargains, before completing their shopping at the big store.

“The dog food and the cat food is like gold because it goes like that,” Chapa said, snapping his fingers. “For a dollar, you can feed your animal. They come for five, six bags at a time.”

Chapa said toy and party item sales have jumped during the recession. The store sells helium balloons for, you guessed it, $1.

But some wary shoppers have pointed out goods sometimes sell in smaller containers at dollar stores, thus negating the savings.

Chapa said about 5 percent of their inventory is sold in smaller than normal packaging.

Up at the Family Dollar store in North Temple, a small-business woman toted gallon jugs of Hawaiian Punch and two plastic bags brimming with graham crackers and vanilla wafers to her SUV. Becky Richardson said she shops here about once a week because the store is near her Little Ones Daycare and offers low prices.

“When you have to feed so many kids, it’s a lot cheaper to come here,” she said, holding up the bags that cost her about $15.

A Troy woman who regularly shops there dropped by looking for a manager. She said she’s tired of driving into Temple and wishes they would open a store near her home.

Family Dollar corporate spokesman Josh Braveman said in this difficult time, “Thrift is in.”

“We are that viable option for people looking to save a few dollars without giving up quality,” Braveman said. “We’re centered locally in communities, in neighborhoods so you don’t have to get in your car, drive a couple of miles to a big box store, park at a big parking lot, navigate through all that stuff.”

With 6,600 stores in 44 states, Braveman said, “We’re going to be in people’s neighborhoods, where they live.”

Dollar General operates five stores in the Temple-Belton area and one in Rogers. Local store managers said they could not comment.