THUNDER BAY – The lineup awaiting the grand opening of Lowes in Intercity Mall began to form before 5 a.m. on Thursday.
Fifty people were waiting into the dawn when the home improvement retail company officially opened its doors for the first time.
“I love how it’s laid out. It’s nice and clean and everything is shiny and wonderful,” said Ashlyn Smith who was among eager shoppers still streaming into the store for its 10 a.m. official opening ceremony.
Lowe's is employing 130 local people to sell 40,000 products across its 85,000-square-foot floor space, not including the 9,000-square-foot outdoor garden section.
The company’s executive vice-president Jim Caldwell, who has prior experience in the city working with The Brick and Wal-Mart, said his company is settling into Thunder Bay for the long term.
“It’s a great community,” Caldwell said.
“It’s one of those communities that we believe will respond very positively to the Lowe's brand of retailing, which is very focused on the customer and meting the customer’s need for their home and everywhere else they live.”
Store manager Don Nadon was born and raised in Thunder Bay. He told those gathered at the opening he was excited to open the store to his family, friends and broader community.
“Being part of the community and being an active volunteer in the community is extremely important to me and I know it’s extremely important to this community,” Nadon said.
“One of Lowe's’ philosophies to help build and strengthen community and it has been an unbelievable experience to be a part of that.”
That corporate responsibility began before the unique board-cutting ceremony as Lowe's executives announced a $10,000 donation to the city’s Playgrounds program that will be used to purchase shade structures to allow the program’s children to take breaks from the sun.
“While the monetary contribution to our sun shelter project is truly pivotal, the true gift Lowe's is providing to us is the opportunity to enhance the outdoor experiences of children within the Playgrounds program,” said program coordinator Trisha Sandrin.
“Through this grant, Lowe's is truly helping to build the future of Thunder Bay.”
