Cora and Kevin Leung will close their business May 28. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

New Beginnings

‘Thanks a million’: Retirement on the horizon for Kevin and Cora Leung

May 14, 2019 | 4:28 PM

An era is coming to an end at Country North Shell in La Ronge as owners Kevin and Cora Leung have sold their business to Lake Country Co-op.

The hand over is expected to occur at the end of this month as the flower and gift shop, as well as the Welcome Café, have already closed. Cora Leung stated the last day the store will be open under their ownership is May 28 and the Co-op will likely re-open not long after that. After they leave, she said there will be a complete renovation done and the store will change day-by-day.

“All I can say is thanks a million to everyone for all the support and friendships throughout the years,” Leung said. “We have been so lucky. We’ve had a wonderful home in La Ronge and believe me, we’re not going anywhere. That’s not going to change.”

The Leungs’ moved to La Ronge in 1978 where they opened a store called Country North Confectionary at the location of the present-day La Ronge Hotel and Suites. About 10 years later, she stated the opportunity came up to purchase a foreclosed building along the highway which was not much more than metal frame at the time. The space was intended for a garage when the Leungs’ bought it and the first store to open was the flower shop.

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Throughout the years, the gas station changed names from originally being called Turbo to later becoming known as Shell. The first restaurant, which was opened by Wayne and Pam Leung, was known as Zesty’s before it closed about six years ago and reopened as the Welcome Café by Keneen and Angel Leung. Cora Leung believes the restaurant area will be the first to be renovated by Co-op.

“They have a large budget and they plan on opening a beautiful facility,” she said. “We were looking about a year or two ago at renovating and that was looking at the $1 million mark, but we’re not young anymore.”

Looking back at the time they owned the store, Leung said it was a home away from home. Their children – Amy, Adam, Roxanne and Corinne – spent a lot of time there and often did their homework in the flower shop. She noted their children also started operating the till at eight years old, adding it gave them a sense of responsibility and helped them in their development.

Corinne, as well as the remaining staff at the Shell, have all been offered positions with the Co-op. Leung said it makes her feel good knowing they will be looked after when she leaves. As for her and Kevin, she stated they’ll still keep busy but are looking forward to some spare time.

“We absolutely loved what we did,” she said. “It was a pleasure and it was home here the same as our house. Our children had a really good life here in La Ronge and the education was great. There was no reason to ever regret our choice.”

Geoff German, the executive director of growth and development for Co-op, stated the purchase and renovations to the new store will cost millions of dollars. He noted the renovation, which will occur on the interior and exterior, should be completed in three months. German added renovations will be extensive and the Co-op will likely be looking for a third-party to lease the space currently occupied by a restaurant.

“The exciting part is we’re going to have more opportunities for jobs,” he said. “We’re in the process of doing recruitment for that location. We’re in the final touches in all this stuff.”

German also mentioned there are no plans to close the current Air Ronge Co-op Gas Bar a few kilometers away.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno