A popular Instagram page has poked some good-natured fun at Sault Ste. Marie’s duelling Dollaramas — the ones directly across the street from each other on Northern Avenue East.
“Only In Ontario,” reads the caption on the video, as the camera pans from one storefront to the other.
Even before the clip hit Instagram Reels, the proximity of the two stores left more than a few local shoppers scratching their heads. On one side of the road is the Dollarama at 293 Northern Ave. E., right beside the Soo Pee Wee Arena; on the other side is a brand new location in the same plaza as Princess Auto and Valu Village.
Although a parking lot separates the two stores, anyone standing at one entrance would have no trouble seeing the other.
The video was posted recently on the Instagram page of toronto_only, which boasts 228,000 followers. At last count, the clip has been viewed more than 830,000 times and generated 681 comments.
“I need to go there,” one user wrote.
“This is crazy,” said another.
“Love me some Sault Ste. Marie!”
“My fantasy come true.”
“Certified Sault Ste. Marie moment."
Launched with a single store in Matane, Quebec in 1992, Dollarama now sells goods in more than 1,000 locations across the country. All are corporately owned and operated, not franchised.
SooToday reached out to Dollarama to ask about the Instagram video. More specifically, we wanted to know if the older location beside the rink is eventually going to close now that the new outlet has opened up beside the Winners and HomeSense superstore.
“At this time, we intend to keep both locations open for the convenience of customers,” wrote Maxime Illick, a spokesperson for Dollarama.
Happy shopping. And videotaping.
