Dollar for dollar

Great Canadian Dollar Store opening second location in New Glasgow

The Great Canadian Dollar Store is opening a second location in Pictou County.

The new store will be located in the Highland Square Mall, and is expected to open its doors in October. It will employ approximately 15.

Kevin Kane, who owns the entire chain, is the franchisee of the Aberdeen Business Centre store, and will also be the franchisee of the new location.

“Our first location does extremely well, so we decided to open a second location, as it’s a great regional mall with strong tenants,” he said.

Kane said the Highland Square location will be 12,000 square feet, double the size of the Aberdeen store, and “will actually be the second largest Great Canadian in the country.”

He said this will allow for a larger selection of merchandise. “People from all over the county go into the (Highland Square) mall,” he said, adding that he thinks the two stores will serve different clienteles.

Kane, of Quispamsis, N.B., purchased the Great Canadian Dollar Store from founders Bud and Vivian Walker, in 2015. The Walkers began the company in 1993 with a vision to introduce Canadians to a different dollar store with friendly, helpful staff and extreme value.

A franchise member since 1997, Kane owns 39 of the stores. In 2007, he was recognized as Trader’s Forum Retailer of the Year.

The Great Canadian Dollar Store has locations in eight provinces and two territories. The variety store sells party items, stationery, housewares, hardware, confectionery, toys, crafts, giftware, cleaning and school supplies.