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Business & Tech

Six Lakes Party Store Opens For Business

Live bait, fishing tackle, hats, snacks and drinks highlight the reopened White Lake convenience store.

It just seems to make sense to have a convenience store in this community that sells live bait and tackle called “Six Lakes.” 

After all there are seemingly countless inland lakes throughout White Lake Township, and the new owner of Six Lakes Party Store near the intersection of Round Lake and Cooley Lake Roads is hoping that access to popular fishing destinations will be a boom for his business. 

Now under the ownership of David Toma, Six Lakes Party Store will reopen Wednesday for business as a locally operated convenience store that will offer a range of fishing gear and equipment along with snacks, drinks, basic convenience items and beer and wine. Toma is excited about the opportunity and joining the local business community. 

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“This store was always known for its bait and we think there’s a market out there because there aren’t many bait and tackle shops around,” said Toma, a West Bloomfield resident who grew up in Detroit and Southfield. 

Toma had hoped to open Six Lakes Party Store by the end of fall 2010 but had issues with the quality of the well water that was available to his building. With those issues resolved, he set the new opening date for this week with a larger grand opening being planned for later this summer. 

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In addition to bait and tackle, Toma eventually plans to sell hunting and fishing licenses from his store.  For now, he will also sell Krispy Kreme donuts and a full range of snack items. He has also decorated the store with different sports paraphernalia and will sell a wide range of discounted, fitted sports hats of professional and college sports teams as well as outdoor baseball caps. 

Six Lakes Party Store will be open Sunday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Fridays and Saturdays from 7 a.m. to midnight. 

It’s not the first family business that Toma has been a part of. His family owned a convenience and liquor store for many years as he was growing up in Southfield. Toma also spent a couple of years living in Arizona as the part owner of a car wash there before returning to metro Detroit. 

The opportunity to purchase Six Lakes Party Store though was too good to pass on, Toma said.

“I’ve been in Oakland County most of my life and this is my home and why I came back (from Arizona) because I love it here,” Toma said. “It’s about a 15-minute drive to the store from my home and I love the short commute.” 

Toma admits that he may not be the most avid fisherman around, but many of his friends are and have even made some suggestions for products to carry in the future. If customers have recommendations for items they’d like to see, types of tackle or fishing equipment, Toma wants them to know he is open to ideas and wants to hear their feedback. 

“We want to stand apart from the ordinary, typical party or convenience store out there,” Toma said. “I really want to develop a strong relationship with my customers and get to know them on a first-name basis. We’re going to continue growing the store and adding new products as we move forward.”

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