ASHLEY DODGE / PVT Dollar Plus is up and running in Pahrump Valley Junction near Basin Road. Advertisement

Dollar Plus, located off Highway 160 in Pahrump Valley Junction, is a beacon of light in a hurting economy. Dollar Plus provides a variety of products including makeup, stationery, a large birthday selection, personalized stationery and pens and sunglasses. Over 95 percent of the stock is under three dollars.

"The fun thing about a dollar store is that everything is so unique," Pat Brown, owner of the Dollar Plus along with her husband, said. "You can walk into the store one week and the next see products you hadn't seen previously."

Dollar Plus is the Browns' first retail business venture. Previously, they ran a web-hosting company.

"Because of the economy, we needed some kind of extra income and heard the outcry for a dollar store in this community," Pat said.

Dollar Plus is different from other dollar stores in the special services they provide. For a customer seeking a large quantity of an item, he or she may request it. Also, customers who wish to see an item that is not already in stock can place their product request on a customer wish list. Though there is no guarantee that the item will be in stock in the future, the Browns' try their best to achieve it.

For example, Pat said customers interested in scrapbooking requested a larger selection. A large pallet of scrapbooking material came in Thursday.

"We want to provide the customer with the best value of the dollar," Pat Brown said. "Our hardest problem has been trying to keep the shelves full."