A sneak preview of Giant Tiger (10 photos)

Sault Ste. Marie’s Giant Tiger store will open its doors at 8 a.m. Saturday.

Staff, management and corporate representatives were on hand at the store Friday at 12 p.m. for a staff-only pre-opening day ribbon cutting, the retail outlet’s employees dressed in yellow Giant Tiger T-shirts and performing some enthusiastic arm-waving.

The opening of the store, located at the western end of Wellington Square Mall at 625 Trunk Rd., will come after months of anticipation among Saultites.

“I’ve been with Giant Tiger for a couple of years now and I think this is definitely the most excited I’ve seen people for a new Giant Tiger store...the fact that people (of Sault Ste. Marie) really want Giant Tiger to be here, so eager, is so exciting,” said Matt Letourneau, Giant Tiger community and events associate, speaking to SooToday.

Letourneau made the trip to the Sault from the Canadian-owned retail chain’s head office in Ottawa.

The local store, employing 50 people (about 60 per cent of them full-time employees) and almost 20,000 square feet in size (described by Letourneau as a typically sized Giant Tiger store), is the 262nd Giant Tiger Store in Canada.

“Just the fact we’re Canadian-owned really resonates well with our communities,” Letourneau said.

“We give back a lot,” Letourneau added, stating the local store has donated $1,000 to The Twinkie Foundation (a not-for-profit organization which helps Sault Ste. Marie families cope with the financial burden of travel costs often associated with the treatment of sick children) to mark its opening.

“This (excitement) is definitely unique,” said Rob Smokowich, the Sault’s Giant Tiger store manager.

“The folks in Sault Ste. Marie and the surrounding area are looking for more shopping options, a different option, and we’re really proud to give them that and bring our brand to Sault Ste. Marie.” 

“We’re extremely excited about tomorrow,” Smokowich smiled.

With Wellington Square Mall currently going through renovations, Smokowich said “the store brings life to this end of the city. The mall has a great development plan in place, to modernize and keep customers coming, with a lot of different options. It’s going to be great,” Smokowich said.  

“Giant Tiger offers a little bit of everything you’re looking for. We sell a lot of fashion products, our fashion line is very exciting and very well priced, which Sault Ste. Marie will hopefully embrace, and we sell food...a lot of people will be surprised to know fresh food and meat (not just canned, non-perishable food) is on sale.”

“The staff has worked very hard to create a nice store and a great experience for Sault Ste. Marie. We’re really excited to show off the store,” Smokowich said.