Dollar Dollar Superstore owners thrilled about opening second location

A man his golf buddies affectionately call “Dolla Donny” is living the dream as he’s about to open his second dollar store in Penticton next week.

Don Hardy, along with his wife Annette Kennedy, have been the proud owners of Dollar Dollar Superstore in the Safeway Plaza since February of 2015. Next Tuesday, on May 1, they will open their second Dollar Dollar Superstore location in the Riverside Plaza right beside Starbucks.

“I’ve always dreamed of owning my own business and to think I will be opening my second business is pretty amazing,” said Hardy, who moved to Penticton with his wife six years ago from Victoria.

Hardy moved here to take a job as the manager of a large retail pharmacy outlet and when he was downsized from that position, he took the plunge to become a business owner.

Since opening his first Dollar Dollar Superstore more than three years ago, he knows it was the right decision.

“It has been great,” he said. “We were hoping to do well because we had a great location, but things turned out better than we ever could have imagined.”

Hardy and Kennedy decided three months ago to expand to a second location when the prime location in the Riverside Plaza opened up.

“Getting this particular location was the key,” he said. “We wouldn’t have looked at opening a second location unless we could get a great spot like this. A big part of our business is selling floaties and our new store is right across the road from the Penticton Channel.

“We’re also very close to the end of town where there are a lot of hotels, motels and campgrounds, so we couldn’t ask for a better location.”

The new Dollar Dollar Superstore will sell basically the same stock available in their other store, but in smaller volume, he said.

Their first location is 4,000 square feet and the new one will be 2,000 square feet.

The new location will sell popular items like spices, household supplies, greeting cards, grocery items, stationery, tobacco and party supplies, said Hardy.

Dollar Dollar Superstore is one of the few retail outlets in the region with a contract to sell helium balloons and this service will be offered at the new store, he said.

Hardy credits his wife for much of the success of the business.

“She’s the backbone of our success,” he said. “We bring two different personalities that mesh very well together.”

A commitment to quality customer service and ensuring their stores are clean, look good and offer low prices will continue, said Hardy.

“Many dollar stores don’t have the best reputation, but we are committed to being very clean, easy to walk through with quality displays of our merchandise,” he said. “We take pride in ownership and that won’t ever change.”

Staff from the other store will get extended hours offered to them at the new location, he said.

The store will open for business Tuesday, but will hold an official grand opening on Saturday, May 5.

“We invite the entire community,” said Hardy. “We will have draws for gift bags and some draws for some real nice floatation devices.”

The new store will be open seven days a week. Business hours will be 9 a.m. until 6 p.m. Monday to Saturday and 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Sundays.