Smoky Lake MacLeod's True Value Reopens

From the Smoky Lake Signal, December 12, 2001.

Macleods True Value Hardware and Variety after a month in receivership is open again in Smoky Lake. The new owners are Myron and Teresa Zaplotinsky of Smoky Lake.

Teresa ran her own business, Every Day Wear clothing store, in Smoky Lake for 10 years from 1988 to 1998. Myron is the owner/manager of M&T Fuels and Fertilizers, the Esso bulk dealership.

They found out last Wednesday that their bid was accepted by the receiver and have rehired the same courteous and knowledgeable staff that was there before, Karen Syvenky and Roz Lealand.

"We'll also be hiring more part time staff," said Teresa. "We want more people than just Myron and I to learn the hardware trade."

While the Zaplotinskys would have preferred to wait a week due to customer pressure, they opened Tuesday. They spent the weekend polishing the floors and restocking the shelves.

"The already trained staff will help us and we hope the customers will be patient while we learn more," said Teresa. The first orders for re-stocking are now going in, and within two weeks the computer system will be running.

Every member of the Zaplotinsky family has been helping. Sons Cory and Derek have been cleaning and Teresa's mother Helen Sochatsky will be checking in the store. Luckily for Myron, it's a quiet time of the year for fuels and fertilizer sales.

"Jim Ewanchuk of Vegreville, the True Value district manager for Northern Alberta, has been super," said Myron, "helping to explain the business, the ordering and staffing. The stock on the shelves will continue to increase. There is lots of Christmas stuff here already." 

There is 5,500 square feet of hardware and variety in the store, said Jim Ewanchuk. Macleods True Value has everything from automotive supplies to knitting, housewares, tools, hardware, paint and toys for children and adults.

Macleods is here to serve your community and will do everything possible to fill your everyday needs and special needs. If it is not in stock, they'll order it.

The store's closure over a month ago has been a real loss to the community.
Welcome back.