Kmart opened its store in Clyde St yesterday.
One of the first to enter the building when the doors opened at 7.30am was Chrystal Vadadoriya.
"We've been here since 5am, but some people got here at 4am. Some people even slept in their cars."
The entrance was packed with staff and would-be shoppers as store manager Forrest Worthen cut the ribbon at 8am.
Before the droves were let in, Kmart head of property Ben Smith thanked "the loads of people across the company for making this work".
The retail giant announced plans to open an Invercargill store more than a year ago. Mr Worthen estimated 750 to 1000 people attended the opening.
A James Hargest College kapa haka group performed before shoppers were let in, as well as during the rush to see what was on the shelves.
