Dozens of shoppers turned out bright and early Saturday morning to be the first guests of Yellowknife’s new Dollarama location.
They were lined up down the block just before doors opened at 9 a.m. There were cheers and applause as the first customers patiently streamed in, greeted by an employee in a bright orange uniform.
Inside, shelves were neatly and fully stocked with everything from snacks to dish soap to gardening supplies.
“This is the best thing that’s ever happened here,” said Delores Kelly, one of the early shoppers.
She says the store will be especially convenient for picking up camping essentials. “It is a beautiful store, well laid out, and everything from household to gardening. It is going to go well here for sure.”
Other shoppers say other local discount stores, like Walmart, just don’t offer the same selection as Dollarama.
The opening of the Yellowknife location, which occupies the lot formerly housed by The Brick on Old Airport Road, marks the Montreal-based discount chain’s first foray into the Northwest Territories. The company has continued to grow despite the turmoil of the Covid-19 pandemic, adding a net 24 stores in the last quarter. The retailer now has more than 1,400 locations nationwide. Sales also increased by 7.6 per cent, or about $4.3 million, between 2021 and 2022, according to the company’s most recent quarterly report.
The store is open Monday to Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
