The last business they'll buy

New Moses Lake gas station owners here to stay

MOSES LAKE - Ron Ruscheinsky believes he's purchased his last business.

"This is where my kids are going to retire," he declared. "When I'm gone, it's theirs, so we'll be here a long time."

"Here" is the RL Lakes Market, located at 2224 W. Broadway Ave.

Ruscheinsky took over the market June 1. A longtime visitor due to stays at the Mar Don resort and the Potholes Reservoir, he was familiar with the area.

"We like the community and we like the lake," he said. "Fishing's great. I love to fish. That's why I bought a place over here, so me and my family can enjoy it, fish, do water sports."

He had purchased a home in Moses Lake for the summer three years ago, but remains at his main residence in Puyallup.

Son Dustin and daughter Cindy run the place, while he is essentially semi-retired.

"Business has picked up and we're on our way," he said.

Ruscheinsky has had four other, similar businesses prior to purchasing the location in Moses Lake.

"I've been in it for 21 years," he said. "When I turned 21 I bought a tavern, had that for 12 years and then I got out of that and went into the convenience store business."

Meeting people is one of the things Ruscheinsky enjoys most.

"I like the retail business," he said. "It's a good business to be in, I think. You meet a lot of people and I've enjoyed it. Never get out of it, probably. Stay in it until I die."

Ruscheinsky said he and his family have done a lot of necessary repairs to the store location.

"Our goal is to give the people of Moses Lake what they want," he said. "We get new products in whenever they ask for them and try to give them good service with a smile. That's basically what we're looking at."

The store is also expanding its deli selection by about 20 products already, doubling since the Ruscheinskys took over.

Response from the Moses Lake community has been positive.

"They're glad to see us come in," Ruscheinsky said. "I'm really happy with the community, but I like this community. Moses Lake is a very nice, friendly town. Slower pace, it isn't hurry up and go. The traffic's lighter. It's a good place my son can raise his kids, you know?"

The business employs three people.

The store expanded its hours to 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week.

"They used to be 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. and we went 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. because we were missing a lot of morning coffee trade," he said. "It's slow going, but it's starting to come. It's growing all the time."