Whether he was rubbing shoulders with visiting Hollywood superstars, music moguls, hockey phenoms, or the few hundred locals he considers an extension of his own family, Dorset’s Brad Robinson has always approached his customers the same way – with a spring in his step and a smile on his face.
The former owner of Robinson’s General Store was celebrated by his family, friends and former colleagues earlier this month at a 90th birthday party, held, where else, but the corner of Main Street overlooking Trading Bay.
It was a full circle moment for the man who has spent the better part of eight decades building the business into one of Canada’s biggest and best country stores – an award it actually won in 1981, following a nationwide poll in Today Magazine.
Robinson’s story with the eponymous shop began around 1946, when, aged 11, he was drafted in by his father, Harry, to scoop ice cream for customers. Then, the store was a blip on the map compared to today – a “cozy” 1,250 sq. ft. box, Robinson recalls.
He spent much of his spare time as a teenager helping his father and three older brothers run the place, learning about the store’s inner workings and, most importantly, its customers. By the time he was 19, Brad had earned sole control.
The 1950s and 60s were a time of great change in Dorset. The government had started selling off Crown land on hundreds of lakes in cottage country. Brad remembers his father pulling him aside and telling him he had an opportunity to grow alongside the community.
Expansion followed – over the next 30 or so years, Brad added a dozen extensions to the building, stretching its footprint to almost 20,000 sq. ft. He added a dedicated hardware wing, a boutique for clothing and jewellery, and souvenir shop for people seeking trinkets to mark their trip.
At its peak, the store employed about 100 people, Robinson said. By now, multiple generations of families in the Dorset area have experienced life under Brad’s employ. Many of them were in attendance for the June 7 bash.
While he took a step back in 1991, passing ownership on to his daughter Joanne and son-in-law Willie Hatton, Brad retained a daily presence at the store. The same rings true today. Though the Robinson clan gave up their stake in 2021, Brad can usually be found walking the aisles and helping for a couple of hours in the morning and early afternoon.
“It’s a short walk from home and I love seeing and speaking with people… it’s hard to change something that’s been a habit my entire life,” he told The Highlander in a June 20 interview.
While there was trouble with the first set of owners – Robinson’s closed for three months in early 2023, ripping the heart out of the downtown – Brad said the new owner, Ven Kommina, who took over in summer 2023, has got the store back on track. He’s encouraged about the future, with the store this year celebrating its 104th anniversary, having opened in 1921.
Meeting stars
Asked about memorable encounters and stories through the years, Brad springs into action. He remembers the summer that Hollywood ‘it’ couple Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell were in the area, while famed actor and comedian Mike Myers, was a regular for several years.
Encounters with National Hockey League stars and athletes from other pro sports have been a dime a dozen, though there’s one Canadian icon who, contradictory to her 1997 hit single, always impressed Robinson when she stopped by for a visit.
“Shania Twain used to come in all the time – she dressed and acted like an ordinary person, never wanted a big deal made out of her being here,” Brad recalls.
One year, at an employee Christmas party at Deerhurst Resort in Huntsville, Twain surprised Robinson with an impromptu set. During one of her songs, she left the stage and took a seat on Brad’s knee. “Not many men can say that,” Brad said with a laugh.
Reflecting on his many years at Robinson’s, Brad said he feels fortunate to have lived the best version of his life.
“Not a single regret – I’m a very lucky man,” he noted. “I’m not one for legacy and that kind of thing, but I know I’ve had a lot of fun. I’ve met thousands of wonderful people, had some incredible experiences and, I think, helped to make a positive difference in my community. What more could a man ask for?”
