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Meat market or meet market? Winnipeggers look for love at Safeway Singles Night

Winter drags on and Valentine's Day is nearly a month behind us, but a dating event in Winnipeg combining grocery shopping and mixing with other singles brought hundreds of eligible locals together.

Ahead of Tuesday night's big event, Singles Night at Safeway had already gained momentum on Facebook, with more than 1,000 people saying they'd attending (actual turnout numbers weren't available). The event reprised similar singles nights that last took place in 1986 at the same Winnipeg Safeway.

Singles ready to mingle tied a plastic bag to their shopping cart or handbasket as a signal they were willing to be approached, which probably spared some other shoppers a few awkward conversations.

A local radio station hosted, and interactive games company Big Games brought their giant Jenga set as an icebreaker. There was also an on-site donation area for a local food bank.

Local interactive games company Big Games brought out its giant Jenga set as an icebreaker. (Facebook/Instagram/Big Games)
Local interactive games company Big Games brought out its giant Jenga set as an icebreaker. (Facebook/Instagram/Big Games)

The event's Facebook page was quite lively, particularly one comment thread discussing whether it was OK to message people at the store they liked.

The comments took a decidedly risqué and pun-happy turn, too, as the link between "safe sex" and Safeway was made.

"I was rolling around putting boxes of condoms in hopeful people's baskets and carts to make sure that if they're gonna do it, they do it the Safeway," wrote Ariel Polvorosa.

I was rolling around putting boxes of condoms in hopeful people's baskets and carts to make sure that if they're gonna do it, they do it the Safeway. (Facebook/Ariel Polvorosa)
I was rolling around putting boxes of condoms in hopeful people's baskets and carts to make sure that if they're gonna do it, they do it the Safeway. (Facebook/Ariel Polvorosa)

Other posts on the page played up the food and dating ties:

"I went to singles night at safeway [sic] and all I got was some half price donuts" wrote Dave Henry.

Along with the jokes, there were the requisite "missed connections" posts and suggestions for future mixers.

"Who were the two fine men I kept awkwardly eyeing in the vegetable section? With the roses.. Where are youuuuu" wrote Lissa Colleen Johannson, while Troy Boss posted: "To the guys and gals whose baskets I had put cucumbers in, the clock is ticking."

All this shows that Winnipeggers, whose winter is one of the more brutal ones of any city, can forget the frigid weather long enough to focus on getting the goods at the grocery store: Not just the night's dinner but hopefully a phone number or two.

One single attendee made this recommednation: "My only suggestion to all ya'll singles...lose your BFFs! I saw a lot twos and threes and that doesn't scream approachable," wrote DJ Burdett, apparently while at the event.

Another local radio station got in on the fun, shooting a video of two of their station's on-air personalities, Courtney Ketchen and Frankie Hollywood, at the event.

In one segment, Hollywood suggests Ketchen stand in the fresh meat section, but she retorts, "No, I told you, I'm hanging out near the buns 'cause I want to find a carb lover!"

In possibly the most embarrassing rejection caught on video from the night, Hollywood approaches three young women, noting their plastic bags, but the trio had different ideas.

"Hello, ladies," he says, mentioning "I'm a white bag as well" before the tallest of the trio, laughing along with her friends, replies, "Sorry, not interested," as they walk off before he's even said another word.

Local radio personality Frankie Hollywood is rejected in a video posted to Facebook. (Facebook/Energy106 FM)
Local radio personality Frankie Hollywood is rejected in a video posted to Facebook. (Facebook/Energy106 FM)

The grocery store embraced the event, reportedly stocking up on roses and bringing in additional staff for the evening.

The director of public affairs for Safeway, John Graham, told Maclean's that yes, people do make love connections of a form in the aisles of the store.

"It’s a natural meeting place for people. It’s kind of a modern-day town square," Graham told Global News. "A lot of people visit friends and neighbours when they’re shopping anyways."

"Over the years we’ve had proposals occur in our stores and we’ve had many people do wedding photography,." he told Maclean's."I don’t know that grocery stores are known as romantic places to meet, but we’re pleased that our customers have a desire to come."