Why one store in Chatham celebrates 'lucky' Friday the 13th
Van Zelst’s Market in downtown Chatham, Ont. is celebrating six years in business on May 13 and the owners say the unlucky day has proved to be the opposite for them.
This year, the only Friday the 13th to take place happens during the month of May.
“Somebody's looking out for us,” said co-owner Lee-Ann Van Zelst. “Just to make it through COVID and we're still all running good.”
Van Zelst recalls humble beginnings with just two vendors. That has ballooned to 33 with a growing waiting list.
“We're like a family here. We celebrate birthdays all together and Christmas together. And we're like a unique family. All the vendors and us,” she said.
Door prizes, balloons and cupcakes were on hand to mark the occasion. The owners tell CTV News they aren’t superstitious, which they believe has led to their success.
“It was just the way it landed. I didn't even know it until that week and then I went, ‘Oh, we're opening on Friday the 13th.’ But I'm not superstitious, so I'm good,” Van Zelst.
Assistant manager Caroline Wagner says the store is gaining in popularity and is hopeful the next six years will continue great fortunes.
“One of our vendors has a Michael Myers real life-sized doll that they bring in for Halloween. It was unavailable this time. He's on vacation,” Wagner said.
Wagner says they’re optimistic in the future of downtown Chatham, noting many tourists are checking out their shop since the pandemic eased.
“A lot of people don't know about us, but we're starting now to get more people from Kingsville, Leamington, London, Woodstock, Kitchener — all over,” she said.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Spectacular aurora light show to be seen across Canada Friday night
A rare and severe solar storm is expected to bring spectacular displays of the northern lights, also known as aurora borealis, across much of Canada and parts of the United States on Friday night.
Which Canadian cities have the highest and lowest grocery prices?
Where you live plays a big factor in what you pay at the grocery store. And while it's no secret the same item may have a different price depending on the store, city or province, we wanted to see just how big the differences are, and why.
McGill University seeks emergency injunction to dismantle pro-Palestinian encampment
McGill University has filed a request for an injunction to have the pro-Palestinian encampment removed from its campus.
Swarm of 20,000 bees gather around woman’s car west of Toronto
A swarm of roughly 20,000 bees gathered around a woman’s car in the parking lot of Burlington Centre.
U.S. says Israel's use of U.S. arms likely violated international law, but evidence is incomplete
The Biden administration said Friday that Israel's use of U.S.-provided weapons in Gaza likely violated international humanitarian law but wartime conditions prevented U.S. officials from determining that for certain in specific airstrikes.
Barron Trump declines to serve as an RNC delegate
Former U.S. President Donald Trump's youngest son, Barron Trump, has declined to serve as a delegate at this summer’s Republican National Convention, according to a senior Trump campaign adviser and a statement from Melania Trump's office.
Mother assaulted by stranger while breastfeeding baby in her car: Vancouver police
A person was arrested in East Vancouver Thursday after allegedly entering a car while a mother was breastfeeding her four-month-old boy.
'We have laws': Premier Smith says police action justified in Calgary
The actions, including the decision to use non-lethal force, to disperse pro-Palestinian protesters from the University of Calgary campus were justified, Alberta Premier Danielle Smith said Friday.
'State or state-sponsored actor' believed to be behind B.C. government hacks
The head of British Columbia’s civil service has revealed that a “state or state-sponsored actor” is behind multiple cyber-security incidents against provincial government networks.