Benjamin Segobaetso – Local Journalism Initiative
Published online October 21, 2026, at www.pontiacjournal.com
MANSFIELD-ET-PONTEFRACT — A familiar Pontiac shopping destination is getting a fresh start as longtime customers Jean Ouellet and Marc Leblanc become its new owners, bringing new ideas, expanded merchandise and a commitment to keeping local shopping affordable.
The couple officially took ownership of Mega Dollar on October 1, renaming the business Chez Méga$ and beginning renovations aimed at modernizing the store while preserving the friendly atmosphere that has made it a community fixture for three decades.
For Ouellet and Leblanc, the purchase is more than a business investment. It is an opportunity to strengthen their ties to a community they have long considered home.
“We had long been customers of Mega Dollar and often said we would love to own it when Jane retired,” the owners explained.
The opportunity arrived sooner than expected when early-retirement packages allowed the couple to leave their federal government careers approximately five years ahead of schedule. Having worked together for more than 20 years, they decided to exchange public service for entrepreneurship.
Ouellet grew up in Pontiac, where his family has longstanding roots in education and forestry. Leblanc, originally from Sudbury, has been visiting the region for nearly 30 years. The couple married locally in 2014 and moved to the area in 2020.
Their complementary skills are already shaping the business. Leblanc brings retail management experience and an enthusiasm for merchandising and bargain hunting, while Ouellet oversees finances, administration and planning.
Taking over a business operated successfully by its former owner, Jane Thrasher, for 30 years has brought both excitement and challenges.
“It takes two of us to replace one Jane!” they joked, acknowledging the demands of learning the operation while introducing improvements.
Customers will notice significant changes. New shelving, rearranged merchandise and expanded product lines are intended to make Chez Méga$ a more convenient destination for everyday shopping.
Beyond retail, Ouellet and Leblanc hope to direct their charitable contributions toward Pontiac nonprofit organizations. Their goal is straightforward: build on 30 years of local business history while giving Pontiac residents more reasons to shop close to home.
For Thrasher, the ownership change marks the end of a remarkable 30-year chapter. Announcing her retirement, she described operating Mega Dollar as “the journey of a lifetime,” expressing heartfelt gratitude to the customers, employees and community members who supported the business over three decades.
She thanked former and current employees for their dedication and service, along with family members, friends, local businesses, municipalities and nonprofit organizations whose encouragement helped sustain the store.
Reflecting on the relationships and memories built over the years, Thrasher emphasized that the transition represents a new beginning rather than an ending.
“It is not the end, it is the beginning for someone new,” she said, encouraging residents to continue supporting Ouellet and Leblanc as they begin their own journey.
Her farewell leaves the new owners with more than an established business. It passes along a legacy of community relationships that both hope to preserve as Chez Méga$ enters its next chapter.