THUNDER BAY — Danny Edwards hasn’t forgotten the value of the friendly, family-run corner store that provided food and necessities to the neighbourhood.
Many of those confectionaries and convenience stores have disappeared and have been replaced by franchise chains that offer automotive fuel along busy roadways, says Edwards, who is the owner of Danny’s Variety, which is tucked away in St. Joseph’s Heritage.
“My store is very unique,” he said. “That’s because you’re a stranger when you come in, but you’re a friend when you leave.”
For the last eight years, Edwards has become great friends with many of the residents in Bethammi Nursing Home and Cook Apartments tenants that shop in his store frequently. Both are located on the St. Joseph’s Heritage campus.
These friendships have become deep rooted, keeping Edwards on the job seven days a week.
And if he doesn’t stock an item that is needed, he will have it for his clients the next day.
“Most of the people here are like my aunts, uncles and grandparents,” he said.
“A lot of times when they have nobody to talk to they will come into my store just to tell me how their day was. They are happy to have somebody to talk to.”
Edwards has provided a coffee table, chairs and older, classic music for his patrons when they visit. He will even play his guitar for them.
“It’s like everybody is part of my family when they come into my store. They’ll come down and they say, ‘Danny I can’t open this can,’ so I would open it for them. Some have brought down a clock and their watch and I have to take a look at them,” he said.
“Some of them even dance in here when I play my music or my guitar for them.”
Joanne Hnatiw, a recently retired worker from the Cook Apartments, remembers when Edwards took over the store.
“The people that had the store decided that they didn’t want to commit anymore, so he approached them and asked if he could take it over. He was so proud of it,” said Hnatiw.
“He got the store up and running and the clients liked it better. He’s got a very kind heart. He loves the residents and the staff here and it’s just such a good fit.”
She said Edwards has put some “real happiness’ to some of the residents who visit him from Bethammi care home.
“They would go down and have coffee at his place and he would play the old songs and you can just see the (happiness) on his face,” she said.
“It warms his heart so much.”
Millie Gehl-Nikkila, a resident at Cook Apartments, says Edwards keeps everyone smiling with his funny comedic ways. His music is quite enjoyable and “I like that older style western music,” she said.
“If Danny doesn’t have something in his store that we ask for, he’ll go out and get it the next time he goes shopping. He’s always pleasant and he can sure be comical.”
Vivian Koss, also a resident in the Cook Apartments, enjoys Edwards’ music as well.
“He’s a good guy. I don’t know what we would do without his little store,” said Koss.
“He is so easy to talk to and he’s always there to listen. If you have something bothering you and you need somebody to talk to, you can go downstairs and bend Danny’s ear.”
Lorraine Nixon, a Cook Apartments tenant for more than 20 years, remembers visiting the store on numerous occasions.
“Before the pandemic, we went in and we’d coffee with him. We really looked forward to it. And then of course, with the pandemic, you couldn’t do that anymore,” said Nixon. “We’d go in and spend an hour there and it was very nice. I hope that we can do that again soon.”
Edwards, who is a cousin of country recording artist Shania Twain, travelled back and forth from his home town of Timmins, Ont., for work. Arriving in Thunder Bay in the 1980s, Edwards worked in the television studio at Dougall Media, then returned to Timmins where he operated two variety stores.
“Thunder Bay is where my heart is . . . and that is how I got back here,” said Edwards. “I enjoy doing this and it is not a job. These people are part of my family . . . and when you need someone to talk with, well, I’m here for you.”
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