FOREST CO., Pa. (EYT) — Menahem Thalkar, owner of Haller’s General Store in Tionesta, was named the Forest County Business Alliance Business Owner of the Year on Thursday night at the FCBA Legislative dinner.

(Photo: State Representative Donna Oberlander, left, and State Representative Kathy Rapp honor Menahem Thalkar, from Haller’s General Store, at the MACA Building in Marienville.)

Thalkar has served as the Tionesta Indian Festival co-chair for more than a decade and served on the Forest Area School Board.

Menahem has served the community in many capacities, such as membership, participation, and support of the Tionesta Lions Club; Tionesta Community Association; and the Forest County Business Alliance.

Thalkar and his wife Tanya purchased Haller’s Fuel Stop in 1982.

Under their ownership, the original business has been expanded in size, merchandise offerings, and employees.

Further growth is limited only by the business’s lot size. Menahem’s college degree was in chemistry, but he possesses a natural business acumen.

They chose to buy the business because they wanted to raise their family in a small-town lifestyle. He has been successful in serving both the sportsman/seasonal population and the local residents, knowing what they want, and building a large and loyal clientele.

Thalkar currently owns successful Subway restaurants both in Tionesta and Titusville and at one time also owned one in Warren.

Thalkar employs 10 or more local teens every year, providing many of them with their first employment experience and teaching them strong work skills. He works around their school and college schedules, re-hires them each summer and between college and their first career job.

He provides an annual dinner for them at Cross Creek Resort, and offers $500.00 scholarships to each as they graduate high school and enter college. Menahem also sponsored the “Subway Player of the Week” feature in the Forest Press for several years recognizing the West Forest School girls basketball team members.

He has contributed to the community in more ways and more times than be listed. Just a few of these include providing food and beverages for the local fire department during fire calls; generous donations of cash, food, and merchandise to local fundraising efforts; and his significant mentoring efforts with his teenage employees.