See you on the lake!

Picture this: You're sitting in a boat or swimming on the shores of Juanita Lake, enjoying the pleasant breezes and waves while catching some sun or a few keepers.

Then, a sudden pang of hunger or thirst hits you. Or the bugs start biting. Or you just remembered you want to get the grill going.

If those essentials weren't available, often times that meant a long jaunt back to Carrington, or New Rockford, or wherever the nearest store happened to be. And that means lost recreation time, fun, and the potential for great times.

Dylan and Michelle Carr of Carrington have now provided a solution to that dilemma, Carr's Lakeside, a small convenience store located on the eastern shores of Juanita Lake at 8523 10th St. N.E.

The Carrs began their business on Friday, May 31, and hope to make stocking up the cabin or cooler a much easier undertaking than it has been in the past.

"Both of our [sets of] parents have cabins out here, and we enjoy it out here very much," Michelle says. "We just wanted to provide something for the local community."

Dylan and Michelle's families, Brian and Heather Carr of Carrington and Todd and Renae Duchscherer of New Rockford, instilled a love of the lake into them at an early age.

Now, the two have three boys, Caylor (5), Bensen (4) and Kaiser (1), and the Carrs want to provide that same experience to them.

"We want to have great memories with our kids out here, so we're trying to promote that aspect of it," says Michelle.

Dylan says that Carr's Lakeside exists mainly to cater to the crowd that needs conveniences in a timely fashion.

"We put the final touches on it in early spring," he said. "We already own the lot where it sits, so we got a prefabricated building, put it down, and got insulation, heating and air conditioning installed."

The store sells food items such as chips, buns, ketchup, hot dogs, brats, candy bars, frozen pizzas, freezer pops, ice cream bars and various soda brands.

Other amenities available include ice, bottled water, sunscreen, gas lighters, paper plates and more.

"We're open to offering new inventory if there's a want for it," said Dylan.

Since Carr's Lakeside is not always staffed during business hours, the owners provide a cash box for payment, and accept money, checks or Venmo. A QR code is displayed on site to assist with Venmo payments.

Orders for specific items can be written down and placed in a box for the Carrs to fulfill.

"We operate on the honor system," Dylan explained. "It's about trusting people to support you the way you're supporting them."

Michelle says that the response from customers on Juanita Lake has been positive so far in their first official week of operation.

"People have been very supportive and excited for what we're offering," she said.

Dylan agreed, saying, "We've gotten some good feedback."

He says that if all goes well, they might add a few more items to the store, and maybe do some reorganization for ease of shopping.

Carr's Lakeside is located in a small light brown building on 10th St. N.E., with the sign visible from the road. The entrance is on the north side facing the lake.

The easiest way to get to the store from various towns are as follows:

• Carrington: Go east 17 miles, then take 84th Ave. N.E. north from Highway 200 five miles past Spickler Ranch and under the railroad bridge to the T-intersection, then go east one mile to 85th Ave. N.E., turn north for 1 1/2 miles and follow the curve around the lake. Carr's will be on the north side of the road.

• Grace City: Take 9th St. N.E. east two miles to the western shore of Juanita Lake, then travel around the southern shore near the railroad bridge. From that point, follow the Carrington directions.

Alternately, travelers along 11th St. N.E. (County Road 1602) can go east from the Grace City highway (1621) four miles east to 86th Ave. N.E., then south 1 1/2 miles.

• McHenry: Go west six miles on 11th St. N.E., then south 1 1/2 miles.

• Glenfield: Go west on Highway 200 six miles to 87th Ave. N.E. (Juanita Road), travel northward one mile past the town of Juanita, then take 7th St. N.E. west and along the railroad diagonally northwest to 85th Ave. N.E., and north 2 1/2 miles.