Canco

The last stop before home is a category all its own. A convenience store on a road heading out of the city centre catches everything people forgot: milk, ice, a bag of chips for the beach, coffee before an early start, and fuel if the site has pumps. The range is deliberately thin and wide rather than deep, chosen for the errand rather than for the weekly shop, and priced for the fact that you did not want to turn around.

Useful to know: stock at a store like this tends to turn with the season more than a supermarket's does. Convenience stores along this stretch of road generally lean harder on ice, cold drinks and beach or boat basics through July and August, then quietly rework the shelves for a quieter winter. If you need something specific, particularly anything to do with the lake, a quick call saves the drive. Worth asking about hours as well, since roadside stores in a place with real winters often keep long hours through the summer and pull them back once the beaches empty out again.