Lee Valley arrives in Niagara
Lee Valley, the popular Canadian retailer known for unique woodworking, gardening and home products, will open for business in Niagara Falls, Friday.
Located in the former Foodland grocery store on Morrison Street, it is the Ottawa-based company’s newest store.
“A lot of people are excited that we’re here,” J.J. Hochrein, vice president of marketing, said Thursday, less than 24 hours before the doors opened.
“When our staff are in the community wearing their Lee Valley shirts, they constantly get people coming up to them saying they can’t wait for the store to open.”
“Once it took our manager about 15 minutes to get out of a store because people kept stopping him and telling them how excited they are that the Lee Valley is coming to town.”
Lee Valley decided to open a store in Niagara Falls after market research indicated local residents were loyal customers, either driving to one of the company’s other locations in southern Ontario or ordering online.
“There are a lot of hobbyists, gardeners and woodworkers in the area,” Hochrein said.
“We also looked at the city and there’s a lot of growth going on right now. We think there’s a strong market here for us.”
The store’s 6,400 square-foot-showroom features an openconcept design and has a seminar room where expert-led classes will be offered including workshops on paddle making, soapstone carving and wood turning.
“There’s always something unique and different that you’re going to discover,” Hochrein added.
“Whether it’s the products or the seminars we offer, it’s a different type of experience and people really latch on to that.”
From June 16 to 25, the first 50 customers will receive a shopping tote with a gift and, on Sunday, dads will receive a pocket rule and plane bottle opener.
There will also be demonstrations during opening week by Canadian woodworkers Vic Tesolin, Konrad Sauer and pyrographer Holly Tallman.
The opening is part of an overall company expansion and marks Lee Valley’s 19th location and fourth store opening in just over two years.
Lee Valley began in Ottawa in 1978, offering woodworking and gardening tools through a mailorder catalogue.
Retail outlets soon followed and, over the years, the company expanded into hardware, kitchen and other home product lines and a manufacturing division called Veritas Tools.