It is grand opening day for the new Tk’emlúps te Secwépemc grocery store.

Kara Stokes is General Manager of store, which is located at the intersection of the Yellowhead Highway and Shuswap Road.

“We have been open for four weeks now. We did a soft launch four weeks ago in October and everything you need is in the store,” Stokes said. “We have some local product, we have your ready to eat meals to go. We have lots of different varieties of products.”

“We sent out a lot of invitations and a lot of people came today. It’s really great to see the support and to see so many people in here today to enjoy the opening of the new market.”

Tk’emlúps says a total of 65 people were hired to work at the grocery store. The band previously said it expected that there could be as many as 100 employees by the fifth year of operations.

“The launch of Sweláps Market marks a huge milestone, offering a highly anticipated amenity to all our neighbors and fulfilling a directive from our Tk’emlúps membership,” Tk’emlúps Kukpi7 Rosanne Casimir said, in a statement last month.

“In a highly visible, convenient location, Sweláps Market is positioned for success and will further grow and diversify our economic position.”