American soda pop a big draw for Sask. store
There’s an unassuming store in a Saskatchewan town about an hour from Saskatoon where customers from all over the province flock to get its unique products.
The owners of Kelvin's Perk in Watrous have stocked the shelves to make every day feel like the fourth of July.
Kelvin Felner specializes in bringing in U.S. products not generally available in Canada. He has a special import license, a process he said involved a lot of paperwork.
“We try to keep our prices very reasonable. We charge our exchange and 20 per cent,” Felner told CTV News.
He makes the 28-hour trip south to North Dakota, Montana or Colorado almost every weekend, hitting up Costco or Walmart for supplies.
“People look at us different when we’re rolling out of Walmart with six or seven carts, and a $2,000 bill, but that’s what we do,” he says.
There are some popular favourites that are hard to keep on the shelves.
“Hands down will be soda pop. We usually try to carry 200 to 250 cases a week. The Prime drinks are the other huge seller. We were selling upwards of 200 cases a week of Prime,” he says.
Pop flavours are popular because they just taste different, even when you can buy the same kind in Canada, according to Felner.
Customers notice the difference and have their favourites.
“I like A & W cream soda. I bought a case when I first saw it,” customer Sunshine Quinton, told CTV News.
There are other coveted items, too.
“Back in December, there was the Bugle rush, I called it. I had the Bugle train going because you couldn’t get them in Canada anymore. In the month of December, we sold 3,000 bags of Bugles through this store,” Felner says.
Felner and his wife, Melanie Airey have always travelled to the U.S. and Kelvin’s grandparents are from the Deep South.
Bottles of Prime, a sports drink promoted by popular You Tube personality Logan Paul, fly off the shelves at Kelvin's Perk. (Faceboook/Kelvin's Perk)
The name of the business also has an American tie-in. It’s a play on the name of the famous café from the 90s sitcom Friends, Central Perk.
“I’m the biggest Friends fan you’d ever meet,” Felner says.
The walls of the café are adorned with Friends memorabilia including photos, posters and even a replica framed doorbell from the show.
The surprises at this little gem don’t end there. If you head upstairs, there is a bowling alley run by the Felners.
“There’s strings and pins and ropes.” He had to learn how to run a bowling alley and all the workings too, creating a real hang out for the town residents.
With business booming he hopes to keep it going strong, serving more than locals.
American pop products are among the most popular offerings at Kelvin's Perk. (Facebook/Kelvin's Perk)
“We get customers from all over, believe it or not. We have a huge clientele from Saskatoon,” he said.
He even makes weekly deliveries to loyal customers an hour away in the city.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
B.C. tenants evicted for landlord's use after refusing large rent increase to take over neighbouring suite
Ashley Dickey and her mother rented part of the same Coquitlam duplex in three different decades under three different landlords.
Mountain guide dies after falling into a crevasse in Banff National Park
A man who fell into a crevasse while leading a backcountry ski group deep in the Canadian Rockies has died.
Expert warns of food consumption habits amid rising prices
A new survey by Dalhousie University's Agri-Food Analytics Lab asked Canadians about their food consumption habits amid rising prices.
MPP Sarah Jama asked to leave Ontario legislature for wearing keffiyeh
MPP Sarah Jama was asked to leave the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by House Speaker Ted Arnott on Thursday for wearing a keffiyeh, a garment which has been banned at Queen’s Park.
Charlie Woods, son of Tiger, shoots 81 in U.S. Open qualifier
Charlie Woods failed to advance in a U.S. Open local qualifying event Thursday, shooting a 9-over 81 at Legacy Golf & Tennis Club.
Ex-tabloid publisher testifies he scooped up possibly damaging tales to shield his old friend Trump
As Donald Trump was running for president in 2016, his old friend at the National Enquirer was scooping up potentially damaging stories about the candidate and paying out tens of thousands of dollars to keep them from the public eye.
Here's why provinces aren't following Saskatchewan's lead on the carbon tax home heating fight
After Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government would still send Canada Carbon Rebate cheques to Saskatchewan residents, despite Saskatchewan Premier Scott Moe's decision to stop collecting the carbon tax on natural gas or home heating, questions were raised about whether other provinces would follow suit. CTV News reached out across the country and here's what we found out.
Montreal actress calls Weinstein ruling 'discouraging' but not surprising
A Montreal actress, who has previously detailed incidents she had with disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, says a New York Court of Appeals decision overturning his 2020 rape conviction is 'discouraging' but not surprising.
Caleb Williams, Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye make it four NFL drafts with quarterbacks going 1-3
Caleb Williams is heading to the Windy City, aiming to become the franchise quarterback Chicago has sought for decades.