NANAIMO — The Mid-Island is being ravaged by an invasive species of dollar stores, and the City of Nanaimo is ready to declare war.

The “Dollarama” store (also known by its scientific name, Cheapinum Crapolis) was first introduced to the Island from the United States. It easily invades stretches of highway, roadsides, and shopping malls that have lost the will to live.

Dollarama stores obstruct sightlines along roads and crowd out local stores the residents depend on. A mature store can live up to 50 years and produces seeds (often called “franchises”) that can survive in the local environment for another 50 years.

Stores Already Spreading

In fact, Dollarama stores have been spreading throughout the Harbour City with reckless abandon. The location at Nanaimo North Town Centre has already spread to a second store, located immediately beside the originally planted store:

Dollarama stores are easily identified by their somewhat rundown appearance. Walls surround the inexpensive products and the green/yellow scheme stands out for its offensive use of colour.

Nanaimo residents have begun noticing the spread of the dollar stores, with one person on Instagram posting a photo of a tire store which had just been consumed by a Dollarama: