By CHRISSY SMITH
Slidell news bureau
LACOMBE – Like so many local businesses, Lacombe True Value Hardware is family-run.
After being started by their mom and dad, Sherry Chabreck and her brother now operate the store together after their dad retired and mom passed away. The business was started in 1968 at an original location, but then moved to Hwy. 190 in the 1970s.
“My dad worked at NASA as an engineer so he was always doing things with his hands. They were talking about layoffs coming up so my dad started this business as a backup plan, but he never got laid off,” Chabreck said. “My mom was a teacher at Bayou Lacombe, and retired so she could work at the hardware store.”
Chabreck has a bachelor’s degree in history and a minor in journalism from Southeastern Louisiana University.
“I worked here since I was little, always doing things with my parents, so once I graduated I came here to work,” Chabreck said. “It was a natural fit.”
She started working full time in 1982, which was the year her father retired, and she has been there ever since. She said she was familiar with it all and enjoyed doing work there.
“This is a ‘mom and pop’ operation. Our dad did so much for the customers, and we have kept that customer service going,” Chabreck said. “My brother and I work well together and we swap shifts.”
Chabreck went to Mandeville High School, and has two daughters who are both LSU grads. Her husband, Greg Chabreck, is the current 7th Ward Constable. Their oldest daughter is getting her master’s degree in psychology, and their youngest daughter is an interior designer in Baton Rouge. They both went to Pope John Paul High School.
“This job is very satisfying, and I enjoy it. When we first opened, we sold toys and did other things. It’s tough with the big box companies, but no one can compete with our customer service,” Chabreck said.
Lacombe True Value fills propane tanks, big tanks, RVs, and has equipment for automobiles, electric, plumbing, house wares, sports good, painting, and hardware, and they cut and thread pipe, make keys, cut glass and plexiglass, lawn and garden, lumber and garden equipment.
Lacombe True Value is located at 28017 Highway 190, Lacombe. Their hours are Monday through Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, call 985-882-5766.