Canadians save on gas at US prices

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - Believe it or not, Canadian shoppers are thankful for our $4 a gallon gas prices as they cross the border on their Thanksgiving holiday weekend.

With the Canadian dollar now stronger than the US dollar, more Canadian shoppers have been spending their money in Buffalo. Tops Market on Niagara Street is directly marketing to them with signage that shows how they can buy gasoline about 25 percent cheaper, and milk for almost half of what it costs in Canada.

Store manager Dave Karb said, "Our Canadian traffic definitely has grown here."

Karb has noticed it most in the past six months, Canadian shoppers are flocking to the closest supermarket to the Peace Bridge, the Tops on Niagara Street.

Ontario resident Filip Szabluk said, "Cheaper...obviously the prices for milk, cheese, eggs, the staples that you go through everyday are a lot cheaper here than we're paying in Canada."

Canadians can buy both milk and eggs at almost half the cost in the US now that the Canadian dollar is actually worth a couple cents more than the US dollar.

Ontario resident Wesley Leszczynski said, "Every week, you know I'm shopping at Tops and Aldi."

"Oh, it's great. It adds to the diversity here and just to have that influx of people here and we welcome it," Karb added.

About 20 percent of the business coming in to the Tops on Niagara Street is now Canadian, so the supermarket is marketing directly to them with a turkey sale for Canada's Thanksgiving weekend, and signs showing the price of gas per liter to clearly show how much cheaper US gas.

Ken Martel of Port Colbourne saved about $20 filling up his truck in the US.

"When we go for something to eat, it seems to get a little more value for our dollar there as well. We're going to the Anchor Bar for some chicken wings and a couple of beers," Martel said.