General stores a lifeline for rural residents

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This article was published 15/05/2020 (2061 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

General stores are offering a rural alternative to the long drives, crowded aisles, and checkout queues that characterize supermarket shopping in the COVID-19 era.

But the pandemic also presents challenges to small, independent grocers, who must navigate customer expectations, supply chain shortages, and public health order compliance without the support of a parent company.

“It’s definitely been a wild ride,” said Joe Lapeire, who co-owns Ste G’s General Store in Ste Genevieve with his wife Natashia, who manages daily operations.

The couple had no way of knowing the commercial pizza oven they installed in January would soon be offsetting revenue fluctuations in other areas of the store, which also sells groceries, fuel, liquor, tobacco, and movie rentals.

“The pizzas have just been flying out the door,” Natashia said, as she waited to box up two pies coming out of the oven.

Ste G’s has adjusted business hours accordingly, opening later each morning due the loss of the commuter coffee crowd, and staying open later each night for the evening pizza rush.

While there’s been a general increase in store traffic, customer patterns have been hard to predict.

“We’ve seen some of our busiest days and some of our slowest days,” Natashia said.

If inter-provincial travel restrictions persist through the summer, the Lapeires expect to see fewer anglers, hunters, campers come through the store.

Phone orders and curbside pickup are accommodated, but a lack of cellular service prevents the Lapeires from offering delivery. Joe said he’s “scrambling” to set up an online ordering system.

“We’re just trying to adapt to what people need,” Natashia said.

Some items are proving impossible to keep in stock.

“Toilet paper, bleach, Lysol wipes—those were gone instantly,” Natashia said.

As if on cue, a customer entered the store seeking packaged yeast.

“Unfortunately not, sorry,” Natashia replied.

Suppliers have been a mixed bag. New restrictions on order sizes are making it hard to get pallets of dog food and bags of water softener salt.

“The bigger players are getting preference over the smaller players,” Joe said.

But Natashia noted other suppliers have gone out of their way to ensure Ste G’s isn’t overlooked.

On top of running a small business, the couple is also helping their three school-age children study from home.

Juggling it all is possible because of Ste G’s five part-time employees.

“We have a fantastic group of staff that have really stepped up during this time,” Natashia said.

Friendly, calm customers have been another source of encouragement.

“We have had a lot of positive feedback. Our community has embraced the store,” Natashia said.

Murray Machej, manager of Carl and Kay’s Fine Foods in Sprague, said enforcing physical distancing in a small store has been a challenge.

“We can only allow five people in the store at a time, that’s been trying at times,” he said. “We even get the odd lineup.”

With Plexiglas shields and hand sanitizer dispensers in place, Machej is focused on replenishing store shelves.

“It’s tough getting stock. We still can’t get yeast, that doesn’t exist,” Machej said. “One week it’s white rice that you can’t get.”

Complicating things is the fact that shipments arrive weekly, not daily.

“Out here, we’re not able to get freight every day,” Machej said. “We get the majority of our freight on a Thursday.”

Seeds had to be ordered in back in January.

“Seed onions were gone in one day,” Machej said. “People are definitely going to be gardening more.”

Carl and Kay’s has been a Sprague institution for 45 years. Machej has been running it “since the Jets left Winnipeg” in 1996.

Over the years, he’s built up rapport with suppliers.

“I think there’s a pecking order,” he said. “But they’ve stepped up and we’ve stepped up.”

When freezer and cooler space became tight, Machej said the RM of Piney offered access to coolers at the hall.

“It’s a community effort.”

Home deliveries have increased and the store also accepts online orders. Those headed back to other communities have volunteered to drop off orders on their way home.

“That’s been very nice too…it’s really something,” Machej said.

Business began increasing in March, around the time port of entry restrictions were imposed preventing cross-border shoppers from stocking up in Minnesota.

Machej’s store responded by extended business hours on Thursdays and Fridays to accommodate those trying to shop during off-peak times.

Machej said he feels “a responsibility to help everyone.”

“We’re just trying to make it easy for everyone so that they don’t have to travel.”

Staff have been working overtime, and customers are grateful the store is open.

“They’ve been very appreciative and giving us great comments and thanking us. It’s been really nice.”

The Carillon also contacted Vintage Corner Store in Woodridge but a representative was not made available before press time.

A voicemail greeting at Vassar Corner Store explained the store closed March 23 until further notice, “out of an abundance of caution and for the safety of our staff and the community.”