Dairy Queen opening in Kincardine
By Barb McKay
Friday was the day Isabel Stone considers the worst day of her life.
That morning she received the news from her landlords that she must vacate the commercial space she occupies at the south end of
“I’m just so hurt,” she said Friday afternoon, wiping tears from her eyes.
Stone has operated the Winning Booth downtown for nearly eight years. The shop is a popular spot not only for purchasing lottery tickets, but also because of Stone herself. When her husband, Brad, died seven years ago, Stone carried on the business all on her own and has been a familiar face for the many people who come in regularly. On Friday she was overwhelmed with hugs and supportive comments.
Stone said she has to be out of the location by March 17 and she is not sure what she is going to do.
“I didn’t expect this,” she said. “It was a shock.”
At nearly 72 years old, Stone said if she was a younger woman, she would have taken the news in stride and looked for a new location. But now, older and on her own, she doesn’t know how she will move all of her inventory. Aside from lottery tickets, the Winning Booth also sells candy, clothing, souveniers, toys and seasonal goods. Right now, shelves are stocked with Valentine’s gifts and Stone has boxes of Easter items she doesn’t know what to do with.
“I had all my Easter stuff ready to begin making Easter baskets,” she said.
Aside from moving inventory, if Stone were to move locations there is a process that needs to be followed with the Ontario Lottery Gaming Corporation.
“I’m one of the top machines in
The Winning Booth is Stone’s life. She often works upwards of 70 hours each week.
“I’m here day and night,” she said.
Dairy Queen is expected to open by early summer. Phone calls to the Dairy Queen franchise development manager were not returned by press time.