By Lisa Wilcox
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Bucky, the Dollar Tree mascot, found it easy to be green at the grand opening of the discount store’s latest Maine location in Caribou on Saturday. Several Caribou residents, who witnessed the end of an era with the closing of Miller’s Department Store on Bennett Drive in 2011, were cheerfully welcomed by Bucky as they attended the celebration. The Caribou Dollar Tree is located in a remodeled section of the old Miller’s building.
Aroostook Republican Photo/Lisa Wilcox
Present for the grand opening and ribbon cutting for Caribou’s new Dollar Tree store on Bennett Drive on Saturday were, front row, from left, Josh Kokoros, Bangor Dollar Tree store manager; Janita Lawler, area Dollar Tree manager; Bucky, Dollar Tree mascot; Ken Murchison, Caribou’s mayor; Mark Robbins, Brewer Dollar Tree store manager; Michelle Wright, Caribou Dollar Tree cashier; Cindy Fletcher, Presque Isle Dollar Tree assistant manager; Sherry Fox, Caribou Dollar Tree cashier; Karen Adams, Dollar Tree district manager; Kelly LaPorte, Orono Dollar Tree manager; Loretta Donovan, Caribou Dollar Tree manager; and John Levitt, contractor. Back row, from left, Mark Dillman, Dollar Tree regional director; Gary Aiken, Caribou city councilor; and Philip McDonough II, Caribou city councilor.
The Caribou Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony, which began with the crowd reciting the Pledge of Allegiance led by the Loring Job Corps Honor Guard. After Caribou Mayor Ken Murchison cut the green ribbon, patrons of the store were handed a green carnation at the door and were treated to popcorn as they shopped.
Bangor Dollar Tree manager Josh Kokoros was busy making balloon animals for younger patrons. The marketing group DECA and Toys for Tots had tables set up in front of the store while Cary Medical Center’s Healthy Hearts Healthy Community was offering free blood pressure screenings for visitors inside.
The threat of rain did not deter Bucky, who spent the morning waving in customers and handing out candy. By 9:30 both the parking lot and the store were full with bargain hunters happy to see the iconic Caribou building back in operation.
