Plans to Open the Zaleski Company General Store Announced

ZALESKI, Ohio – November 20, 2015 - The Village of Zaleski is named for Count Peter Zaleski, a Polish investor in the Zaleski Mining Company in the 1800s. Tamara Mash’s partner Jan McKibben grew up in the village of Zaleski. It was one of those growing up in Mayberry types of experiences. In the summer, kids would ride their bikes down to the General Store to get a bag of chips and a soda with a quarter. The men all met at the general store in the morning and drank a cup of coffee before going to work, the ladies all stopped in on the way to the Post Office. The General Store was the center of the village.

A place where a person could find out what was happening in the area, and a place where word got out if someone needed help. As with all smaller towns, Zaleski was built around mining, the Charcoal Iron Industry and the railroad. Unfortunately, the Village has been economically stagnant for years. Currently, there is no store in the Village. The old general store closed a few years ago. The residents need a place to buy groceries and other necessities. So, Jan and Tammie want to resurrect both the Zaleski Company General Store and boost the community’s spirit, get some groceries on the shelves, and return to the times when the store was the center of the community.

The store will provide delivery, at no charge, of groceries to the elderly or incapacitated. The general stores decor will display relics and pictures of Zaleski’s rich historic past. The village is surrounded by the Zaleski State Forest and is just four miles away from Lake Hope State Park, which would supply the store with tourists and hunters year round. They will purchase local crofter’s creations, which includes handmade items and soaps, to display and sell to tourists. They will purchase produce and eggs from local farmers, and sponsor a farmer’s market.

It is our hope that by using different activities and events to attract tourists to the village more businesses will show an interest in locating in the community thereby improving the economy of the area. However, before they can reopen the general store, Tamara Mash needs help. That’s why they launched this Kickstarter campaign. The goal of this project is to raise $55,000 by December 21, 2015. The funds raised will go towards purchasing and upgrading the building to get the certificate of occupancy, stock up the store, as well as cleaning and remodeling.

To help open this much needed store in the Village of Zaleski, please visit the Kickstarter campaign or click here. Perks will be delivered between January 2016 and March 2016.

Please keep in mind this is an “all-or-nothing” deal, which means if the campaign does not reach the funding goal then the project cannot move forward. So know that any amount given can make a difference, and this is an incredible opportunity to be a part of a special campaign! 

Help Tammie and Jan reach the goal by sharing this on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networks. The more people know about this, the more support the campaign will receive.