The beginnings of the Moose River Country Store go back to the mid-1930's.  The bookkeeper for the Albert Gaudet Store (also located on Moose River but no longer in existence), Leo Tessier, decided to open his own store on the Moose River.  This was about a half-mile above the current location of the Moose River Country Store.

Leo then took a partner and operated "The Handy Store", similar to what we today would call a convenience store.  Just a few years later a fire burned the building to the ground, which also left the Tessiers in need of a place to live as they had lived in part of the store.

  Leo then purchased a lot to build a house from Alfred Parent, who was his grandmother's husband.

In the meantime, in 1938, the Kineo House Hotel was demolished by its owner.  The lumber from this large structure was offered to anyone willing to retrieve it.  Leo and his brother-in-law, Albert King, latched two canoes together and retrieved enough lumber to build a house on Leo's newly purchased land.

Once the house was built, Leo opened a new store - operating from the front of the house as well as the basement.  This house still stands next to the Moose River Country Store and is owned by Leo's son, Paul Tessier, (who was kind enough to supply us with this history lesson!)

A few years later, Leo purchased additional land and built a store on the current location of the Moose River Country Store.  The store was smaller in size than the current store.  Around 1950, part of the store was turned into a soda fountain that served lunches as well.  Leo's wife and their two daughters operated this.  In 1971 Leo decided to retire.  Since no family member was interested in keeping the business, Leo then sold "Tessier's Store", as the store was known.

The store has changed hands a few times over the last 35 years or so and has been changed here and there, but has a steady stream of locals and a loyal following of vacationers who come back to visit us year after year.