PHOTOS: Fresh Street Market nearly open at Aberdeen Mall, holding hiring fair

Photo: Brendan Kergin

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Photo: Brendan Kergin Photo: Brendan Kergin Photo: Brendan Kergin Photo: Brendan Kergin Photo: Brendan Kergin Photo: Contributed

 

In just over a month a new grocery store will be opening its doors in Kamloops.

Fresh Street Market, based in Vancouver, is opening its seventh location in Kamloops later this year.

Store manager Glenn Hyokki says the current plan is to open the doors on Nov. 12 at Aberdeen Mall.

Hyokki and human resources generalist Gabriela Stevens say the draw to customers will be the market-style experience of the store.

"It feels more like a market place when you come in, it’s not like a big box store," Stevens tells Castanet. "You're coming in, you’re going to interact with those individuals in those departments."

The store takes up 40,000 square feet of the mall's lower floor (where Sears used to be) and, neighbours the food court. It'll include the usual things like a butcher, bakery and fresh produce area, along with some unusual parts, like a large cheese section and a gourmet donut corner. Stevens notes there'll be warm cookies and cinnamon buns as well.

The infrastructure and displays are coming together, with local references like the 'Hillside delicatessen.'

A restaurant is in the works too, but due to COVID-19, they're holding off on opening that section until next year.

Fresh produce and knowledgeable staff will be the goal in differentiating the store from others, Hyokki says. To that end, they're in the midst of hiring dozens of people, up to 120. While the core leadership positions are filled, a hiring fair is set for later this month:

• Friday, Oct. 23 from 1 to 6 p.m.
• Saturday, Oct. 24 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Wednesday, Oct. 28 from 1 to 6 p.m.

People interested in applying should go to the Fresh Street Market entrance on those days and they'll be interviewed by Stevens and others. COVID-19 protocols will be enforced.

"We will have our department leaders already in place," she says. "So it’ll be assistant leaders, specialty positions, clerks, support staff."

Part-time and full-time positions are available, she adds.

While Nov. 12 is the goal for the opening, Hyokki says it'll be a soft opening, due to the pandemic.