A Rush Of Canadian Shoppers Coming To Grand Forks

Weather permitting, Grand Forks shoppers this weekend are going to have some competition from the North. Area stores are predicting this will be one of the busiest Thanksgiving weekends in a long time.

Even with the weather the Canadian Border Service Agency is expecting a 40 percent increase in Canadian travelers. Last year nearly 5 thousand Canadians crossed the border for the busiest American shopping days of the year.

"The great thing about it is that people who come from Canada are really looking to buy, they're not just here to look. It's amazing that the vehicles that leave the store you don't think they are going to make it back to Canada how full they are," said Travis Hoffner the Assistant Manager of Menards.

Hoffner says its the strong Canadian dollar that is bring in more visitors from Manitoba.

"A lot of people who come stay here, they have a lot of the same products in Canada same brand names everything twice as expensive as it is here so so the savings is their for them," said Hoffner.

The Grand Forks Travelodge has been booked since last year. They say 90 percent of their customers are Canadian and they do everything they can to accomodate their early morning shoppers.

"We usually set breakfast up from 6 to 10 but on black Friday morning I think we will start about 3 or 3:30 so people are a little bit busier then they normally are," said Vanessa Blue, the Manager at the Travelodge.

Blue says they have a waiting list all weekend for those waiting for a cancellation.

Menard's and the Travelodge say they hope the weather doesn't stop their Canadian shoppers from coming to Grand Forks.

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