The New Duchesnay Store serves up 10th anniversary with a smile

By Kelly Anne Smith

NIPISSING FIRST NATION—Staff, the community, and responsible ownership have made a winning combination for The New Duchesnay Store, in Duchesnay on Nipissing First Nation.

The business recently commemorated its 10th anniversary with a big celebration and an invitation extended to all.  Serving complimentary food along with draw prizes, including a sago draw for an iPad, and discounted gas prices were offered as a way of giving back to the community, say the owners.

Alice Villemaire, a member of Nipissing First Nation, bought the property with her husband, Pat Villemaire, at 40 Goulais Crescent in Nipissing First Nation. Pat Villemaire explains the beginning.

“We purchased it with Alice’s brother for five years. It was shut down at the time. We rebuilt everything from scratch,” recalled Villemaire.

Service is always prompt and smiles are plenty at the gas bar. An employee of The New Duchesnay Store was pumping gas as he pointed out Pat. “Sure, you can go ask Dan anything. He and his wife Alice are really nice and approachable. “

Currently, eight staff members are employed with The New Duchesnay Store.  Long time employee Matt Pilon was helping with the 10th anniversary barbeque, but is moving on after finishing college.

Alice and Pat are proud they are able to offer community members employment within the reserve. Employees have started with the New Duchesnay Store as their first job and continued working right through high school and college.

Alice was quick to respond that it is the people that have made the business a success in the first decade. “The highlight has definitely been the staff because whoever was hired stayed with us for a long time.”

Offering regular, premium, and diesel gas as well as convenience items, the gas bar often has the cheapest price in the area. Pat says they do not always have the best price.

“There is the Eagle’s Nest on the highway.  And there is Chester’s on the highway halfway to [Sturgeon Falls]. We don’t compete against one another. It is hard to match their prices because they get volume on the highway,” stated Villemaire.

Now open 10 years, the entrepreneurs want to sustain the size of the business. As a reward for their hard work, the Villemaires were off for a fly in fishing trip. They clearly could hardly wait to get out on the water.