New owners take the reins at Beaver Mills Market

By Ken Johnston
Editor

New owners took over Beaver Mills Market in Rainy River on April 1, 2010.
Three partners, Sandy Campbell, her daughter Kristie Tesarsky, and Donnie Tolen, all local people, have joined together to take over from Steve and Eileen Hawkins who built and ran the grocery store since it opened about 15 years ago.
Campbell and Tesarsky have worked at Beaver Mills for many years now and Campbell has an even longer history in the grocery business having worked at Aikenhead’s Grocery, Susan’s Corner Store and the Rainy River Convenience Store. Tolen is doing some of the handyman work around the store and will eventually play a more prominent role in the business.
Campbell said that she mentioned it to Eileen that if they were ever going to sell it, she would be interested. That was a couple of years ago. Then a few months ago the idea jelled and the three of them talked about it and decided to go for it.
“Steve and Eileen have been so helpful throughout the entire process,” said Campbell. “They have also been really good to me and my family over the years with all my kids having worked here at one time or another.”
Kristie began working at the store at the age of 14 and logged about five years there. “I never dreamed I would one day be running a grocery store,” said Tesarsky. However, she said she loves living in Rainy River so the opportunity is a great fit!
Business is not new to the Campbell/Tesarsky family. Campbell grew up as a Venables here and her dad bought a scrap yard business here in the early 1960s. Since then their family has owned/operated several businesses including two others today; The Roadside Restaurant and Brent Venables automotive shop in the former Esso building.
Tolen is also a born and raised local boy having grown up in Gameland and stayed in the area.
Campbell thinks it is great that a young couple like Kristie and Donnie have chosen to make Rainy River their home. “We need more young people doing that here,” said Campbell.
The store itself will continue to operate as it did under the Hawkins. They have no plans to lay anyone off, maintaining their staff of 15 people (full and part-time included).
They are however offering more fast food items in their deli for the lunch crowds. “We also want to bring in more variety of items,” said Campbell, noting that they recently brought in a selection of kids toys for travelling families.
While they both have years under their belts at Beaver Mills they both say they are learning new things every day. Things like ordering and the computer have Kristie racing up a learning curve.
As for the Hawkins, Campbell said, they are running Camp of the Woods and love doing it.
The new partners are planning their grand opening for Friday May 21st. They are having a special flyer that week with week long specials but will have many in-store extra specials on the 21st. They will also be serving cake that afternoon (watch for the ad in next week’s Record for details).