On Sunday, the Mission Save-On-Foods will hold a special day for its customers in conjunction with the 100th anniversary of Overwaitea.
It’s going to be a fun event,” said Jim Shaw, manager of the Mission store.
The celebration runs from noon to 4 p.m. and features face-painting, hot dog sales, old-fashioned floats (root beer and cream soda) as well as popcorn and ice cream and waffle cones.
“The more the merrier,” said Shaw, who is hoping some of the former Mission managers will attend the celebration.
The first Overwaitea in Mission opened in 1927, 88 years ago.
Shaw said there have been five locations since then. The first was located on First Ave., close to the Mission Record office. After that, it moved several times before occupying its current location at the Junction.
As part of the celebration on Sunday, a replica of the original Mission store front has been created.
“We tried to copy as much as we could from the original,” explained Shaw.
His produce manager Ray MacDonald helped construct it with help of several other staff members.
“It really turned out nice,” said Shaw.
Overwaitea Food Group, is celebrating the 100th anniversary of the first Overwaitea store, which opened in New Westminster. There are now 145 stores in B.C. and Alberta, employing more than 14,500 people
The group’s brands also include Save-On-Foods, PriceSmart Foods, Cooper’s Foods, Urban Fare and Bulkley Valley Wholesale.