Lavallee’s Inverary store

Mar 29, 2017

Christine Lavallee was ready for a change. She used to own a restaurant in Kingston, and more recently spent seven years working at a corporate job for WTC (Westport Telephone Company). She lives on the Washburn Road in the Sunbury area and over the years driving through Inverary she became painfully aware that the community was lacking a grocery store, something that Inverary had always had in the past. With her husband Keith, who runs Lavallee and Sons construction, she looked at the former Bilow’s lumber barn on Perth Road in the middle of the village. The space had two garage doors, and a lot of potential, Christine and Keith thought, so they took a lease out in December. It was Keith’s idea to put in windows where one of the doors was located, and to leave the roll up door in place to roll down at night for added security. It turned a dark space into a bright space and in January Lavallee’s Inverary store opened.

Christine carries basic groceries and convenience store items, but her real passion is locally produced quality food and craft products.

“I decided to go slow and see what kinds of products I could find locally, and in two and half months you can see what has happened.”

Lavallee’s carries bread and Cinnamon buns from Oomen’s bakery, a well known brand in Kingston that is produced just down the road from her home, honey from Inverary and Battersea, Hanna’s Meat pies and Barb’s Peroghi’s from Sydenham, Bear Roots seeds from Verona, chocolate and greenhouse greens from Seeley’s Bay, and the list goes on from there.

“There are so many talented and committed people in this region that I will soon have this store full. And the products are so good that customers come in the door out of curiosity and spend 30 minutes looking around. And then they come back.”

Once the summer season hits, Christine is planning to roll-up the second garage door and open up a fresh air vegetable market stocking local produce from the many farms in the local vicinity.

She will keep stocking some of the canned and other grocery items that she has on two of the aisles in the store, but is planning to completely over haul the display over the next couple of months.

Another new business, Luki’s takeout, shares the building with her, and between them the two businesses are sprucing up the Inverary retail scene.

“I believe everybody is getting back to their roots. Now everybody wants less stress and healthier local food. They want to know where their food comes from and they want to know the people in the stores where they shop. We can do that for them. They can shop here, at Garrett’s, at Northway, and save a trip to Kingston. They like that.”

Christine said that she is planning to continue to bring in new items that her customers are looking for, and will not back down from buying local either. Soon, hot meals will be available at the store in addition to coffee and baked goods. The food will be prepared by Ruthie’s catering, from Verona.