The parking lot was packed and the lineup was out around the building as the new Starbucks location had its official opening Friday morning at 5:30 a.m.
The traffic has been insane at the new North Bay location on Algonquin Avenue.
Manager Kyle Martinsen moved from southern Ontario to manage this new location. He says it was like an early morning on Boxing Day or Black Friday outside their facility.
“We had people literally lined up before we even opened our doors,” said Martinsen, who has worked at Starbucks locations in Collingwood and Owen Sound before.
“There were people driving from New Liskeard, from Timmins, even from Sudbury and they have a store there. They are just so excited. It is an amazing turnout.”
See related: New Starbucks to open soon
There has been nearly a year-long wait for the opening day as Starbucks announced it was coming back to the Gateway City last August.
Martinsen says Starbucks realized a return was long overdue after their small location in Target closed back in 2015. He adds that Starbucks is for everyone.
“We just instill our mission and values which is one person, one neighbourhood, one cup at a time and we live those values in our mission statement.”
