A new fry and ice cream shack is coming to Prices Corner this spring.
Brent Johnston, the owner of Johnston Fence Contracting, recently bought a fry stand business from Fergus.
"It was a very well-known business there, but the owner retired," Johnston explained. "I bought the building, the business, the menu, and moved it here to Prices Corner."
Johnston says building a chip stand at the intersection of Highway 12 and Horseshoe Valley Road has been on his radar for many years.
"It's not just going to be a fry shack," he said. "I'm going to build a playground for the kids, lots of picnic tables, and we are going to have a bit of a market there on Saturdays so vendors can come in and sell local products."
Johnston's Fry Shack will open during the Victoria Day long weekend with a menu based around hot dogs, sausages, burgers, fresh-cut fries, poutine, and Kawartha Dairy ice cream.
"We really want to give good service," Johnston explained. "I want this to have good prices, good food, and offer a little bit of an experience as well."
Johnston, 36, says the community is excited about his new business venture.
"A lot of people have been asking us about it," he said. "I think it's going to be really good."
In December, Johnston also took over as the owner of O'Connor Hardware & Farm Feed, a long-time business just up the road.
"They treat you like family when you go in there and you're not just a number," the Twin Lakes Secondary School graduate said. "It's not a big box store but, believe it or not, they have pretty well everything you need."
When former owners Danny and Sharon O'Connor told Johnston they were selling the store, he didn't hesitate to purchase the business.
"My wife Sarah and I still have the same staff," Johnston said. "We are very happy with the investment and it's a really great local community store."
Johnston plans to add more services and product lines to the business while keeping the same "family vibe."
Johnston says he keeps busy between his three businesses, running an elk farm, and being the father of four children aged two to seven.
"I have a lot of good staff and managers in my office team and different departments who I rely on and trust," he said. "It's a busy life, we do work hard, but it's all worth it in the end."
Johnston hopes the community is "excited" about the services he is bringing to Oro-Medonte Township this spring.
"I think it's going to be good for the community," he said. "We are very happy."
