Green’s Pop Shop sold

Lethbridge – If you walk through the doors of Green’s Pop Shop, you will see Dave Green sitting in his favorite spot – the freezer right next to the front entrance. Soon, that won’t be the case. After 40 years, Green has sold the business and is getting ready to retire.

Green opened Canada’s first bottle depot in April of 1971, launching a recycling business before it was fashionable, or profitable, in a rented space on 13th Street North.

“My old boss says ‘If you are going to give money to kids for their bottles, then they better have something to buy’”, says Green.

He took his boss’ advice and a few years later, Green moved his business across the street, selling everything from cigarettes to fish bait.

“I used to have the motto. ‘If you want it, we got it, but if we don’t have it, you don’t need it.”

Green says through his work he has received a lot of accomplishments and satisfaction, but says his biggest enjoyment is his employees and customers.

The business officially changed hands on Monday, but Green has offered to stay on for a few months to help with the transition. As for his official retirement date? Green isn’t setting one.

“I’ll cross that river when I get to it. I’ll take one day at a time.”