Family Dollar in Ottertail officially opened its doors to the public on Saturday, marking the occasion with a grand opening celebration.
The first customers through the doors were rewarded with prizes, including $5 gift cards for the first 50 customers, along with numerous other small freebies.
The grand opening followed a little-publicized ‘soft’ opening on Jan. 15, which gave the store staff time to work out any last-minute kinks before the big day.
“We were really happy with that soft opening,” said Store Manager Lark Wedde just before the grand opening on Saturday. “We didn’t see much traffic through the doors, but that’s what we were hoping for... I think people are really going to be surprised with everything we have to offer in the store.”
The store currently employs six staff members, including Wedde, two full-time assistant managers and three part-time clerks.
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Finding the right employees was a hurdle that store leaders had to overcome; the store’s opening was even slightly delayed due to a lack of applicants.
“It did take a little work finding all the right employees,” said Wedde. “I was handing out flyers to local businesses and had lots of signs around the store.”
Once the staff was assembled, however, things progressed quickly.
Wedde said that, “Ten days after the first fixture truck arrived at the store with all of our shelving units, we were all set up and ready for business.”
That speediness was due in part to a specialized group of workers sent in from corporate, who focus on getting new stores ready for their grand openings.
“We had a group of people coming from North Carolina and also Chicago that really got everything ready to go here,” said Wedde.
Family Dollar will be open to customers seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. It is located not far off of Highway 78 in Ottertail, on Otter Drive.
