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“Let it begin.”

Those were the words Tulsa resident and lifelong QuikTrip fan Albert Endrizzi said just before QuikTrip opened the doors to its 70th location in the company’s Tulsa Division on Wednesday evening.

For QuikTrip executives, the opening had special significance: They made Endrizzi, who has Down syndrome, an honorary employee, thus allowing him to complete the new store’s first transaction.

“My wife, Sally, met Albert 25 years ago at TU (the University of Tulsa) in a Best Buddy program,” said Stuart Sullivan, QuikTrip’s chief financial officer.

“He mentioned to my wife that he wanted to come to the grand opening, and I came up with the idea of him potentially being the first customer. And then our division manager said, ‘Wouldn’t it be cool if he could actually ring up the first customer?’ ”

QuikTrip spokesman Mike Thornbrugh said the company surprised Endrizzi with the news when he arrived at the store, near 47th Street and Harvard Avenue, that night.