The first customer at the new Marshalls store in Abbotsford had been waiting in line since 6 a.m. for the grand opening on Thursday morning.
Ray was rewarded for his enthusiasm by getting to cut the ribbon at the entrance to the store just before 9 a.m., as about 70 employees clapped and cheered.
With that, the store – the second Marshalls to open in B.C. – welcomed the public to its location at the new Highstreet shopping complex.
More than 230 people streamed through the doors within the first several minutes. Employees lined both sides of the aisle and clapped as they came in.
Store, district and regional managers were among those present for the grand opening.
Andy Barker, vice-president of the western region for TJX Canada (which owns Marshalls, Winners and HomeSense), was also in attendance and addressed staff prior to the public opening. He asked them how many have been to a Marshalls location in the U.S.
"This is the big chance you have today to show people what Marshalls looks like in Canada because they only know what they've seen south of the border. What they see today and in the next few days is going to determine what they think of Marshalls as a chain," he said.
Also prior to the public opening, a cheque presentation of $5,000 was made to Kids Help Phone, for which Marshalls is a corporate donor.
Kids Help Phone provides confidential phone and web counselling to youth 20 years and younger.
The Abbotsford location is one of 13 Marshalls stores that will open across Canada this year, and is the second in B.C., following the one in Vancouver that was unveiled on April 4.
The store sells designer fashions for men, women and children, as well as footwear, accessories, and beauty supplies. It will expand to include home decor in August of this year.
Highstreet is located at Mt. Lehman Road and Highway 1. Previously opened at the complex was the Walmart SuperCentre.
Scheduled to open next week are Bouclair Home (May 28) and London Drugs (May 31).
