Tourists teem in places such as Clifton Hill, Ferry Street, Victoria Park and Table Rock in Niagara Falls, but do they venture as far as the area of Optimist Park or Montrose Road north of Thorold Stone Road in the city's north end?

The Home Depot next to Optimist Park and the A&P supermarket on Montrose Road think so. Both stores have asked for permission to be open for business on most statutory holidays through a tourist exemption under the Retail Business Holidays Act.

The A&P is already allowed to open on Victoria Day, Canada Day, Labour Day and Thanksgiving, because of an exemption granted by Niagara's regional government -- which has the authority to grant such exemptions -- back in 2002.

The store wants to expand that exemption to include New Year's Day, Good Friday, Easter Sunday and the new Family Day holiday in February.

The Home Depot is asking for a tourist exemption to be able to open on Easter Sunday, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Boxing Day and Family Day, and any future holidays proclaimed by the province.

While the city doesn't make the decision on whether or not to grant the tourist exemptions, the region asks it to sign off on any such application.

Niagara Region clerk Pam Gilroy said the region's legal department will not be recommending the Home Depot exemption be granted, saying regional staff don't believe the big box store will cater to tourists.

In a memo to city council, City of Niagara Falls clerk Dean Iorfida noted that city council did support the previous exemption request for some holiday openings for A&P back in 2002.

While he said an argument can be made that A&P probably caters more to locals at its location on Montrose Road, Iorfida said adding the additional holiday opening exemptions "seems to be in keeping" with council's support for exemptions back in 2002.

In its application, the Home Depot said it does indeed cater to the tourist market, both through supplies such as barbecues, propane tanks, lawn furniture and lawn accessories for campgrounds and trailer parks, and by providing materials for contractors to carry out emergency repairs on holidays at city hotels and motels, as well as attractions such as the Maid of the Mist and the Skylon Tower.

In its application, A&P said it provides fresh food such as deli products, seafood and produce to tourists, as well as having a pharmacy.

Both stores say they meet the criteria under the provincial act for exemptions of being within two kilometres of a tourist area. The region will hold a public meeting before either of the exemptions are considered.