Jack and Carol's General Store at Vilna has been
remodelled to combine modern conveniences and a personalized country
atmosphere. The last 5 years has seen many changes in the store. A new
freezer, 3 new coolers, a new floor, new carpet, the walls repanelled,
and a complete new check out area, with a new digital cash register. It
provides a whole new look that makes better use of space to provide more
products on the shelves.
Every night for the last month the stock has been moved
aside, the shelves pushed out of the way and the men work to the early
hours of the mourning, then before the sun rises the shelves go back up
and it's business as usual.
"It's a hard way to renovate," admitted Carol
Dagley, "But we enjoy the living and working in the area, so it is
worth the effort to improve the store. The area and the people have
supported us and we've grown with the town in the last five years. With
the new renovations we hope to give our customers a nice place to
shop."
Jack Dagley has over the years, seen a lot of the world.
Originally from Liverpool, Nova Scotia he joined the Navy for three years
and travelled to England, Ireland, Finland, Sweden, Belgium, Bermuda,
Barbados, New York, Detroit and then from coast to coast in Canada five
times on his own.
Eleven years ago he met Carol in Edmonton. She was a
certified Nursing Aid, first at the University Hospital where she got
part of her training, then at the Camrose hospital, the Norwood
Auxiliary in Edmonton and the Good Samaritan.
She was raised at Fairview in the Peace River Country.
When they first came to Vilna, it was to work
temporarily for a friend. But they like the people and the area so they
bought the store and started adding to it.
First they added stock and machinery. (There are coolers
and freezers and meat and produce cases now.) Then they added a clothing
store. Two years ago they opened "Carol's Casuals" a complete
family casual clothing store. Everything from shoes to slacks, jeans,
shirts, sweaters and lingerie.
"It's an added convenience for the people of
Vilna," Jack said. "Now they can buy clothing and groceries at
one stop." A good idea for a growing town.