Elys sell GRʼs Country Corner to Ruskinʼs C&M Supply

Rod and Laurie Ely both started their careers as teachers. Laurie taught elementary classes for 23 years in Red Cloud. Rod taught junior high science classes for two years in Superior before deciding to work at his dad’s elevator in Guide Rock. Eventually, Rod took over ownership of the elevator and has since passed its management to his son.

Like all couples, Rod and Laurie had dreams about their future. A recurring one was to own either a gasoline station or a restaurant. Fate stepped in when Rod decided to build a fertilizer plant and his banker informed him he should also put in fuel pumps. After discussions with Laurie and a rewritten business plan, the Country Corner was born in 1992.

Opening in June of that year, the convenience store was able to satisfy both dreams of a restaurant and gasoline station. They were even able to celebrate that first Fourth of July at their new establishment and to continue celebrating until July 4, 2024 when they ended a 32 year run with the sale of the business.

Early in their adventure, they were able to hire Cheryl Herrick. Cheryl has been with the Elys all through the years and has become a valuable asset along the way. From hiring new employees to doing the bookwork, she has kept the day-to-day operations running smoothly. This left her employers free to handle important infrastructure decisions.

For instance, In the beginning customers, would pull up to a pump, fuel their vehicle and then go inside to pay. At first, payment was in the form of cash or check. It was not long before customers wished to use their credit card. A hand-operated imprinting machine was purchased so the customer could “sign on the bottom line” and receive a carbon copy of their transaction. As time went on, payment options increased and scanner, card readers, chip readers and many upgrades were implemented. Rod anticipates the ability to turn on the fuel pump and pay using your smartphone will soon be the next big upgrade.

The Elys are proud of their small community of Guide Rock and always tried to put them first in their business decisions. When several local residents came to them looking for a place to play Pitch, Rod let them use the store. A cup was placed on the table for “goodwill” donations by the Pitch players. One of the uses for this money was to purchase new tables and chairs. Rod said, “There were some very competitive games played at those tables.”

Although, normally closed on Sundays, when there was a prairie fire, Rod came down and opened the store so the fire trucks could get fuel and water. During the emergency, they opened the kitchen and were able to offer food and beverages also. Local customers helped deliver food and other items as the fire raged. As Laurie said, “In a small community, everyone has to pitch in when there is a disaster. We were just lucky enough to have a small store and help.”

Of course, there are many more stories surrounding the Country Corner. From the many high school students that have had their first job there to the local residents who have been loyal customers, the Elys are thankful. When they decided a few years ago it might be time to retire, they still wanted their dream to live on. They started offering the business for sale to friends but never advertised it nationally, fearing a large corporation would turn it into “just another convenience store.” When C&M of Ruskin approached them about selling the store, they felt they had finally found a new owner who would carry on their commitment to “com-munity first.”

As for the future, Rod and Laurie can now relax in Arizona over the winters and not worry about their dream come true.