BUSINESS: Kenyon's closes its Walnut Street store

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September 9, 2008

Staff Reports The Lockport Union-Sun %26 Journal Tue Sep 09, 2008, 12:50 AM EDT

It was a tough decision to make, but a necessary business one.

After 38 years, Kenyon’s Variety on Walnut Street shut its doors for good on Aug. 30. Owner Kevin Kenyon said the store wasn’t doing enough business and that difficult economic times didn’t help.

“It was something that wasn’t profitable,” Kenyon said. “It still made a decent amount, but not enough of it. It was a difficult decision, this was our first signature store.”

Kenyon’s began in 1960 in the old Webster’s Cigar Store building on 17 West Main St., but soon moved to the Walnut Street location, which was previously the site of Young’s Pet Store. The Kenyon’s Walnut Street store was opened in 1970 by the original owners, Kevin’s parents, William and Dolores Kenyon.

When asked how long he has been working with the chain, Kenyon smiled.

“I graduated from school in 1980, so for 28 years, I’ve been receiving a paycheck,” he said. “But I’ve been working since ...”

He put his hand out, palm down, indicating he’s been working at a Kenyon’s since he was a little child.

Kenyon said he had tons of memories about the Walnut location, which he used to visit frequently as a child. He said his father worked about 16 or 17 hours a day, and then his mother would take over the store and work there. One memory that stands out is the day the Kenyon’s moved to Walnut Street. He remembered seeing a line of people carrying cases over the Big Bridge from the red brick building on West Main Street to Walnut Street.

The Walnut Street closure will not affect the six other Kenyon’s locations. These include the Kenyon’s stores on Robinson Road and Lincoln Avenue. Other locations include Main Street, Newfane; Transit Road, Amherst; Campbell Boulevard, Pendleton; and 5820 Goodrich Road, Clarence.

Aside from the loss of population, Kenyon’s on Walnut faced increased competition from larger stores, such as Wal-Mart and Tops Markets. But a big reason for the closure, Kenyon said was the price, specifically the tax, of cigarettes.

“Years ago, we were doing about 1,500 cartons a week,” Kenyon said. “(Now) we were well below 100 cartons a week.”

According to the state Department of Health, there was a $1.25 increase in tax per cigarette pack. The department said New York now has the highest cigarette tax in the nation.

The Walnut store stood out from all the other Kenyon’s locations in its lack of gas pumps. Kenyon said there are fewer convenience stores surviving without gas stations.

“It’s another draw to get people on the property,” he said.

Kenyon said all of the employees at the Walnut Street location were transferred to other Kenyon’s stores.

“We were very sensitive,” he said. “When you see people four, five, six and seven days a week, you get to know them.”

Kenyon said the Walnut closing helps the variety store chain, and called it addition by subtraction. He added if there was a location that would be profitable, Kenyon’s would be there tomorrow.

“The sky isn’t falling,” Kenyon said. “We were there for 38 years and looking forward to another 38 years.”

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