History

If you can't buy it here....
For decades this little general store catered to the needs of its neighbours carrying all of the items people might need - from plows to pancake syrup and cradles to carpentry tools, which led to the popular saying, "If you can't buy it here, you don't need it."

Everyone in the community came to enjoy gathering here as our store served many other needs over the years. Besides dealing in general merchandise, it provided postal services, a bus connection, and a service station.

It was home to cracker barrel philosophers and the place where families met the bus to welcome back loved ones during the war.

Hub of Activity
During hot summer months, Christmas or thanksgiving our store became a hub of cheerful activity when people stopped to pick up food, refreshments and last minute necessities on their week-end escapes to nearby Pigeon Lake.

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Friendship, Barter and Goodwill
Then in 1944 the owner, planning to retire and leave the area, approached the Wetaskiwin Co-operative Association to purchase the land, buildings and business operations. He declared that in return for their loyalty he wished that the residents of the area who had repaid him for his investment twice over in friendship, barter and goodwill would become the new owners of the business. He was hopeful that the Wetaskiwin Co-operative Association could make that happen.

Profound Co-operation
After communicating with every resident in Falun and finding that only two individuals were not interested in the venture, the Wetaskiwin Co-opertive Association paid $32,000 cash for the store building, two residences, truck garage and shop, farm fuel building and bulk storage, two trucks, all inventory, wind charger, post office facilities, bus station connection, and two acres of land with a water well - all of which faced the busy Pigeon Lake Highway.

Still Going and Growing Strong
The co-operative members and residents of Falun got their store and own it to this day.

The initial buildings still stand and through a a massive renovation project in 1999 they were incorporated into the modern looking facility you see now.

The look may be new but the merchandise and services the store offers are still as varied as the needs of the people it serves. Most importantly the country style atmosphere still beacons the families of Falun and the people heading to the lake and campgrounds.

The business growth and facilities would be an impressive site for the old-timers to see. They supported a store that they could rely on for their every need and then as owners delivered on their promise that customer service would be their number one priority. Their initial decisions helped build the groundwork for the Falun store to grow to be "The Biggest Little Country Store in Canada". Meet the Staff

	However, the location, atmosphere and hospitality hasn't changed one bit over the last seventy years.