Templin’s Country Corner under new ownership

Travelers on Interstate 90 past Tokio Road will notice markers “under new management,” near Templin’s Country Corner.

Businessman Avtar Brar recently purchased Templin’s Country Corner from previous owners Gary and Venette Templin.

Brar said he has been in the convenience store business since 2014, and spent 10 years in the restaurant industry. He noted this is an opportunity to operate a business with elements of both a store and a restaurant, as well as a gas station and truck strop.

Brar said he first visited Templin’s 10 years ago with a business partner.

Although he did not purchase the building from the Templins when they first met, Brar saw business possibilities in owning it.

Brar said he always liked Templin’s and its location near the freeway. He would always pass it when he drove on I-90 from Spokane to his business in Yakima.

Over the years, Brar said he built a rapport with the Templins and they agreed to sell him the business.

Brar said is excited about the opportunity to own Templin’s and looking forward to the challenge of running the business.

He said would he like to focus on running Templin’s as more of a truck stop with the restaurant and convenience store complementing it.

Brar has already made improvements to Templin’s since he purchased it. He has fixed the pot holes in parking lot, landscaped the property and painted the building. Brar has also fixed the exterior lights and cleaned up the gas pumps.

While he made improvements to building’s exterior, most of the inside remains the same. Brar said he asked the Templins to let him keep the shelves and tables, but they may take the antiques and paintings.

Brar also hired new employees to help run the restaurant, as well as changed Templin’s business hours. The convenience store is open at 5 a.m., and it will transition to 24 hours after enough employees are hired.

Since Brar has made the improvements to the building, he said the store’s business has already doubled.

“But doubling the business doesn’t excite me yet,” Brar said. “Ten times more (business) is what we need, then I’ll be excited.”

Brar will continue on making improvements to the store, such as installing new gas pumps, more RV spaces and a digital sign advertising Templin’s as a restaurant and truck stop. He added the inside needs a walk-in cooler.

Brar understands the improvements to Templin’s will require time and money, but he believes the investment will result in more business.

He said he will leave the day-to-day operations of the store and restaurant to the employees while he focuses on running the business from behind the scenes. Brar added that his focus on Templin’s will not affect his other businesses in Spokane and Yakima, which he described as “self-running.”

After the business increases, Brar hopes to hires more employees and make further improvements to the store.

Templin’s Country Corner is located on 2008 Durry Road. Business hours for the convenience store are from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. The restaurant is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.

To contact the business, call 659-0198 or visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/Templins86/.