On Oct. 22, a local business changed hands in what some see as a resurgence within the business community in Snow Lake. The Makowski Services building and property on Poplar Avenue was purchased by Jennifer Mayer and Chris Chell and is now known as Chell's Sled Shed. In doing so, Mayer and Chell are the first people (of hopefully many more) to take a chance on business in Snow Lake since the substantial and stimulating mining news that also arrived in October.
The new business will offer most of the services that were located at the address prior to the sale. Chell says that he and Jennifer will operate the Sears Catalogue outlet, the car wash, and sell gas and other petroleum products. In addition to this, the couple will have a small convenience section in the building, offer snowmobile accessories, and do repairs to all models of snowmobiles. "We plan on bringing in snowmobile apparel too, and in the springtime we will offer repairs to all models of ATV's," said Chell in an early November e-mail interview.
There have been some long hours and even longer days in preparing their new business for its opening on Nov. 2. It seems that Mayer and Chell aren't intent to continue on this way, doing it all themselves. As a result, there could be some job openings at the Sled Shop. "Besides Jen and I seeming to work 25-hours-a-day ourselves, we plan on hiring possibly two more employees for now and maybe another depending on how well the repair shop does," Chell said. He notes that for the time being the couple shouldn't have to expand on site, but possibly by summer they may have to make the repair shop larger, or build a new one in the back of the store.
When asked why they decided to go into business at this point, Chell explained, "Well with all the repairs on ATV's and snowmobiles that I've done in my backyard over the years, it was time to move out of that 900-sq-ft. garage into something a little larger. Chell added, "With the purchase of the store it seemed to compliment that business and offered more room for us to expand and get into the apparel accessory line."
Patrons will have noticed that the Sears franchise has been closed of late, but Chell said it was to Nov. 5. "Once the company representatives shows us all the in's and out's of Sears," he said.
