Women waded through piles of shoes on the floor and made purchases by the basket-load yesterday at the kickoff of the 12-day Army and Navy shoe sale in Vancouver’s downtown Eastside — Canada’s largest shoe sale.
A few lucky contest winners got a 30-minute head start in the morning while hundreds lined up outside. The doors opened to the general public at 8 a.m.
Those waiting in the line that snaked around the block hid under umbrellas for hours for a chance to get in, try on shoes and get out with them in time to make it to work.
“I’ve been waiting here since 5:30 a.m.,” said the woman first in line.
At the strike of 8 a.m., Army and Navy president Jacqui Cohen flung open the doors, allowing the hundreds of women — and a few men — to pour into the store, some screaming with excitement.
One shopper said, “I had to explain to my boyfriend this is like the Super Bowl for women.”
